Optic nerve components may not be equally susceptible to damage by acrylamide

Cells in the lateral geniculate nucleus of rats treated with the neurotoxin acrylamide were classified as X or Y according to the criterion of linear summation. Compared with control animals, they had a lower ratio of X to Y cells. It is argued that this effect may be related to differences in axon diameter, the thinner fibres in the optic nerve being more susceptible to damage.