[Development of Meynert cells in cat visual cortex under the conditions of flickering light stimulation]

To examine the effect of rhythmical light stimulation on postnatal development of the visual system, the formation of Meynert cells was studied in area 17 and posteromedial suprasylvian area (PMLS) of kittens reared under the conditions of flickering light stimulation (15 Hz frequency). Profile area of neuronal cell bodies and cytochrome oxidase (CO) activity level were measured in frontal sections of the visual cortex in control (n = 6) and stimulated (n = 6) kittens. Meynert cells located in area 17 and PMLS demonstrated an approximately 37% increase in CO activity in the stimulated animals. At the same time, the profile area of Meynert cell bodies in PMLS was decreased by 20% as compared to that in normal animals. The presence of functional disturbances of Y-conducting visual channel and the possibility of binocular vision suppression in the stimulated animals are discussed.