[Changes of y neuron formation in cat visual system during early postnatal ontogenesis under the influence of...

To examine the effect of an artificial rhythmic light stimulation on the development of structural and functional organization of Y neurons of cat visual system in the ontogenesis, the distribution of the neurons immunopositive to SMI-32 antibodies was studied in lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and posteromedial suprasylvian area (PMLS). Laminar distribution of SMI-32-positive neurons and neuronal body profile area were analyzed in intact animals (n = 4) and in kittens (n = 4) grown under conditions of rhythmic light stimulation with 15 Hz frequency for 4 months. In light-stimulated animals, changes in laminar distribution of immunopositive neurons were detected in both LGN (decline in the percentage of the immunopositive cells in C(M) layer) and in PMLS area (decrease in cell count in layer V). Morphometric analysis has shown the significant reduction of cell body profile area in immunopositive neurons in light-stimulated kittens only in layers III and V of PMLS area. The data obtained suggest that Y channel functional disturbances in light-stimulated animals are caused by the structural and metabolic changes detected in Y neurons.