The development of cell size in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of monocularly paralyzed cats

Nissl profiles of cell somata in the lateral geniculate nuclei (LGN) of adult cats which had been reared from 3 to 4 weeks of age with monocular paralysis (MP) were compared to those from normally reared adult cats. In all subjects, measurements were made in 3 different regions of the binocular segments of the A and A1 laminae and in the monocular segment in both LGNs. In the cats reared with MP, reductions in average cell size of about 20%, relative to normal, were detected throughout the binocular segments of the A and A1 laminae in both LGNs whether their innervation was provided by the paralyzed or mobile eye. There were no detectable effects in the monocular segments. These results are discussed in comparison to the morphological effects of other rearing procedures, particularly strabismus and monocular deprivation.