Translaminar growth of axons in the kitten dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus following removal of one eye

Abstract

The distribution of retinal afferents to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat following the early removal of one eye has been studied using autoradiographic as well as degeneration techniques. The degeneration techniques have confirmed earlier observations that axons from the remaining, normal eye grow across laminar borders into the deafferented lamina A. Autoradiographic techniques, however, have shown further examples of translaminar growth between lamina A and lamina A1 as well as between lamina A1 and lamina C. Although the possibility exists that such growth also occurs between the other C laminae (C1, C2 and C3) such growth is harder to demonstrate since no well defined interlaminar regions exist in this part of the nucleus. In the monocular segment of the nucleus degeneration techniques have shown some translaminar invasion of the deafferented lamina A. Autoradiographic techniques have demonstrated similar growth as well as an abnormal invasion of the most lateral parts of the monocular segment. This latter growth originates in the optic tract as it curves around the nucleus on the way to the superior colliculus.