Inferred network

R(Retina) → MPN(Medial preoptic nucleus)
MPN(Medial preoptic nucleus) → DTN(Dorsal tegmental nucleus)
DTN(Dorsal tegmental nucleus) → LPO(Lateral preoptic area)
LPO(Lateral preoptic area) → LHA(Lateral hypothalamic area)

Support information about direct projections from Retina to Medial preoptic nucleus:
Sending structure Receiving structureStrength of projection Type of connectionTechniqueGeneral descriptionCollatorAssociated reference
RetinaMedial preoptic nucleus light/moderatenot knownCholera toxin conjugated to HRP
Case pg348,349, fig5a-f. Soma notes 36 female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-350g. 10 microliters of CT-HRP(.20%-.40%) were injected into one eye ?behind the lens into the vitreous chamber of the eye. pressure injection over 1 min. Terminal notes Medial component of the RHT included labeled fibres and terminals found near the midline involved the medial half of the medial preoptic area terminals evident in the ventral part of the medial preoptic nucleus.
Levine JD, Weiss ML, Rosenwasser AM, Miselis RR., 1991

Support information about direct projections from Medial preoptic nucleus to Dorsal tegmental nucleus:
Sending structure Receiving structureStrength of projection Type of connectionTechniqueGeneral descriptionCollatorAssociated reference
Medial preoptic nucleusDorsal tegmental nucleus moderatenot knownHRP/WGA
Case table1. Soma notes WGA-HRP inj. Terminal notes not specified..
Chiba T, Murata Y., 1985

Support information about direct projections from Dorsal tegmental nucleus to Lateral preoptic area:
Sending structure Receiving structureStrength of projection Type of connectionTechniqueGeneral descriptionCollatorAssociated reference
Dorsal tegmental nucleusLateral preoptic area existsnot knownPHAL
Case pg370. Soma notes Injections of PHA-L were placed in different partd of DTR in 15 female Wistar rats. Unilateral injections, including both DTN and DLTN, but not involving the locus coerulus
Groenewegen HJ, Van Dijk CA., 1984

Support information about direct projections from Lateral preoptic area to Lateral hypothalamic area:
Sending structure Receiving structureStrength of projection Type of connectionTechniqueGeneral descriptionCollatorAssociated reference
Lateral preoptic areaLateral hypothalamic area lightnot knownHRP/WGA
Case pg427, fig5. Soma notes not specified.. Terminal notes WGA-HRP inj into depressor sites, core of inj site in LHAp/LHAt/VTA/SN.
Allen GV, Cechetto DF., 1993
Lateral preoptic areaLateral hypothalamic area existsnot knownautoradiography
earlier: Nauta Brain 81:319, 1958; cat, Nauta method
Swanson L.W., 1976