Cytochemical characteristics of the neurons of the external geniculate body in the rabbit brain in a period of visual function recovery after deprivation]

To study the properties of the external geniculate body, both neuron protein concentration and content were measured cytophotometrically in the cytoplasm of the above neurons taken from nomal animals and animals transported to normal conditions of illumination only after 2.5 months of visual deprivation, where they were put just after birth. The normalization of protein concentration and content has been observed in the neuron cytoplasm and in the surrounding structures. The magnitude of changes observed was related to the size of the neurons. It is supposed that some portion of neurons may exist in the external geniculate body having different degrees of dependence upon the visual impulsation. Mechanisms of possible rearrangement of the neuron metabolism in the geniculate body during the restoring period are discussed.