QUANTITATIVE MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN VISUAL CENTERS IN RATS AFTER UNILATERAL DEPRIVATION

The effect of visual deprivation on the morphology of the primary and secondary visual centers was studied. The deprivation was achieved by unilateral lidsuture in 14 or 15 day old white rats before eye opening. The animals were kept for 8‐9 weeks in larger cages where they were exposed to different kinds of visual stimulation and had greater movement opportunity. The asymmetry was revealed by means of volume measurement and cell counting. No changes could be found in the optic tract and superior colliculus. The volume differences on the side supplied by the deprived eye were found in the dorsal part of the lateral geniculate body −5.07%, and in the primary visual area −16.0%. Cell counting revealed asymmetry in the dorsal part of the lateral geniculate body −13.5%, as well as in the pulvinar −7.0%. No consistent difference in cell density could be found in cortical Iayer V of area 17, whereas in layer IV there were relatively more cells +11.5% on the side connected with the deprived eye. The changes in different centers related to the visual pathway were of different intensity according to the proposed role in transmitting different kinds of visual information. Copyright © 1969 The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology