Effects of Enucleation on High-Affinity Binding Sites in Chick Optic Tecta

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Abstract
The effect of unilateral eye extirpation on the development of the chick optic tectum was studied in both the embryo and the newly hatched chick. Although the prevention of normal afferentation of the embryonic tectum retarded its growth, there appeared to be a significant increase of muscarinic acetylcholine binding site in the noninnervated tectum. This phenomenon was repeated in the posthatch denervated system wherein the functioning optic nerve is served. A significant increase in the number of binding sites and reduced dissociation constant of the interactions of this receptor with [3H]quinuclindinyl benzilate was found in the deafferented optic tectum. This may suggest the presence of a denervation-supersensitivity-like modulation. Similar increases were not detected with other binding sites studied in either the noninnervated embryonic or deafferented posthatch optic lobes. The possibility that acetylcholine is a primary neurotransmitter of the optic system is discussed.