Different rates of functional development in the two visual systems of the chicken revealed by [14C]2-deoxyglucose

Age-dependent changes in neuronal metabolic activity in the visual systems of the male chicken were assessed using [14C]2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) autoradiography. Groups of 3 and 4 chicks aged either 2 or 23 days posthatching were injected with 2 DG and exposed for 30 min to a variety of visual stimuli in either the monocular or binocular condition. Control birds had both eyes occluded. All groups were subjected to the same auditory background. In the 2-day-old chicks high levels of metabolic activity occurred in the rotundal-ectostriatal system in a manner consistent with eye use and known neuro-anatomical connections, but very low levels of activity occurred in the thalamo-hyperstriatal visual system. In the 23-day-old chicks eye use resulted in high levels of metabolic activity in both visual systems. The distribution of higher activity within the rostral regions of the anterior hyperstriatum at this age was consistent with eye use and the known distribution of ipsilateral and contralateral projections to the region. Different rates of functional development in the hyperstriatal and ectostriatal systems may reflect a requirement for different visual information processing in young versus older chickens. This study indicates that the ectostriatal system subserves the majority of early visual behavior. Age-dependent changes in the regional arrangement of activity in the Field L auditory region were also noted.