Retinal ganglion cell distribution in the cebus monkey: a comparison with the cortical magnification factors

The distribution of ganglion cells was determined in whole-mounted Cebus monkey retinae. Ganglion cell density along the horizontal meridian was asymmetric, being 1.2-4.3 higher in the nasal retinal region when compared to temporal retina at the same eccentricities. The total number of ganglion cells varied from 1.34 to 1.4 million. Ganglion cell density peaked at 49,000/mm2 about 0.5 mm nasal to the fovea. Comparison between ganglion cell density and areal cortical magnification factors for V1 and V2 reveals that the relative representation of the fovea increases in the visual cortex. This effect seems to be a general feature of the visual system of primates.