Cytoarchitectonic study of the brain of a dwarf snakehead, Channa gachua (Ham.). I. The telencephalon.

Cytoarchitectonic pattern of the telencephalon of a dwarf snakehead, Channa gachua, is studied by serial transverse sections of the brain (Kluver and Barrera staining). On the anteriormost extremity of the telencephalon, olfactory bulbs terminate that are sessile. The olfactory bulbs comprise four concentric layers, which from outside toward the center are olfactory nerve layer, a glomerular layer, mitral cell layer, and internal cell layer. Large terminal nerve ganglion cells are prominently visible in the dorsomedial position where the bulbs terminate on the telencephalon. In all, 24 nuclei are identified in the telencephalon on ventral and dorsal areas and are named according to their position. Ventral telencephalon exhibits 11 nuclei. On the dorsal telencephalon, there are 13 nuclei. These again are named according to their position on dorsal, ventral, median, lateral, or posterior part. This study reported for the first time in this fish will be useful in tracing the neuronal system of Channa gachua and subsequent studies of the functional aspects of these nuclei in the regulation of reproductive cycle of this species.