The telencephalon, diencephalon, and mesencephalon of the canary, Serinus canaria, in stereotaxic coordinates

Abstract

A stereotaxic atlas of the telencephalon, diencephalon and mesencephalon of the canary, Serinus canaria, was prepared for use in anatomical and behavioral experiments. Canaries have a complex vocal and behavioral repertoire many of whose components are under hormonal control in the male, and are therefore useful for many physiological and anatomical experiments. They are available commercially, breed easily in captivity, are quite hardy and respond well to anesthetic and surgical procedures. The atlas consists of 30 frontal plates from the frontal pole to the level of the motor nucleus of the trigeminus. One sagittal plate is included for reference purposes. Six birds (three males and three females) with marking lesions were used to make the atlas. Their brains were embedded in albumin‐gelatin media, cut at 50 and 25μ and stained with cresyl violet for cell bodies, Weil stain for myelinated fibers and the Fink‐Schneider method for unmyelinated fibers. Plates were drawn from the cresyl violet series and labeled using all three stains. The completed atlas was tested for accuracy by making 12 small lesions in a number of predetermined discrete loci in several birds and evaluating their placement. Eleven of these lesions were found to be within the targeted structure. The results of this test, combined with the results of experiments in over 50 birds, have shown the atlas to be accurate in 80% of all cases.