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Cytoarchitectonic pattern of the hypothalamus in the cobra, Naja naja

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Summary

The distribution and cytoarchitectonic pattern of the magno- and parvocellular hypothalamic nuclei of the cobra, Naja naja, are described at the light-microscopic level. With respect to their tinctorial affinity to paraldehyde fuchsin (AF) as a representative of the Gomori-type of stains, the magnocellular neurons belong to the “AF-positive” and the parvocellular neurons to the “AF-negative” elements. In addition to the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei proper, two accessory aggregations of magnocellular neurons, the nucleus retrochiasmaticus and nucleus circularis, can be identified. Although in a peculiar location, they may be regarded as subunits of the supraopticoparaventricular neurosecretory complex. As many as 22 “AF-negative” nuclear areas are identified in the hypothalamus of the cobra. The nucleus periventricularis hypothalami of earlier authors is subdivided into several circumscribed neuronal complexes. The nucleus arcuatus, nucleus hypothalamicus lateralis and nucleus lateralis recessus infundibuli are well developed. An attempt is made to interpret the significance of these nuclei on a comparative and phylogenetic basis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Cytobiology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Federal Republic of Germany

    P. D. Prasada Rao, N. Subhedar & P. David Raju

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagpur University, Nagpur, India

    P. D. Prasada Rao, N. Subhedar & P. David Raju

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  1. P. D. Prasada Rao
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  2. N. Subhedar
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  3. P. David Raju
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On leave from the Department of Zoology, Nagpur University, Nagpur, India

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Prasada Rao, P.D., Subhedar, N. & David Raju, P. Cytoarchitectonic pattern of the hypothalamus in the cobra, Naja naja . Cell Tissue Res. 217, 505–529 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219361

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