The effect of visual deprivation upon the Meynert cell in the striate cortex of the cat

The 'solitary cell' of Meynert has been studied during postnatal development in the normal cat and in kittens reared either with unilateral or bilateral eyelid suture, or in the dark. Following dark-rearing there was a marked reduction in the frequency with which Meynert cells could be distinguished compared with the normal, but the effects of eyelid suture were mild. These observations were confirmed in a semi-quantitative study and they indicate that this distinct morphological class of neurone in the striate cortex of the cat may be affected by abnormal visual experience during the critical period.