Early development of X-cells in kitten lateral geniculate nucleus.
Lateral geniculate nucleus cells of the kitten were classified as X-cells or Y-cells with a contrast reversal test and their latencies to optic chiasm shock were measured. X-cells with mature latencies were found as early as 21 days. Y-cells did not have adult latencies at 40 days. The early development of some X-cells may be due to differential rates of fiber myelination and synaptic maturation within the lateral geniculate nucleus.
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002415:Cats; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology; D009897:Optic Chiasm / Q000502:physiology; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology