[Maturation of the retinal structures in the ontogeny of mammals]

Using various neurohistological, electronmicroscopic, cytochemical and electrophysiological techniques, studies have been made on the development of peripheral visual pathways in human subjects and some homoiotherm animals (pigeon Columba livia, cats, rabbits). Heterochronous maturation of the conducting pathways in the retina was observed. The data obtained on rabbits suggest that heterochronous maturation of the receptors accounts for heterochronous differentiation of various elements within the system retina--visual cortex.