Changes in the Formation of Y Neurons in the Cat Visual System during Early Postnatal Ontogeny on Exposure to Binocular Rhythmic Light Stimulation

• Published in: Neuroscience and behavioral physiology 2014-11, Vol.44 (9), p.1088-1093
• Main Authors: Merkul’eva, N. S., Mikhalkin, A. A., Nikitina, N. I., Nefedov, D. A., Makarov, F. N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies; Behavioral Sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brain; Cats; Neurobiology; Neurosciences; Physiology
• ISSN: 0097-0549; 1573-899X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11055-014-0030-3

The influences of artificial binocular rhythmic light stimulation on the development of the structural-functional organization of Y neurons in the cat visual system during ontogeny were studied by assessing the distribution of neurons immunopositive for SMI-32 antibodies in the lateral geniculate body (LGB) and posteromedial zone of the lateral suprasylvian sulcus (PMLS). The layer-by-layer distribution of SMI-32-positive neurons was analyzed, along with the cross-sectional areas of their bodies, in intact animals ( n = 4) and cats reared in conditions of rhythmic light stimulation at a frequency of 15 Hz for four months ( n = 4). Stimulated animals showed changes in the layer-by-layer distribution of immunopositive neurons both in the LGB (decreased proportion of immunopositive cells in layer C M ) and the PMLS (decreased proportion of immunopositive cells in layer V). Morphometric analysis showed that in stimulated cats there was a significant decrease in the cross-sectional area of the bodies of immunopositive neurons only in layers III and V in the PMLS. These data suggest functional impairments to the Y-conducting channel in stimulated animals, due to structural-metabolic changes to Y neurons.