title: [Peculiarities of cytochrome oxidase activity in the visual cortex neurons of kittens reared under the conditions of flickering illumination].
abstract: The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of the light flickering with the frequency of 15 Hz, on the neuronal metabolic activity in kittens reared under the conditions of mesopic illumination. The method for demonstration of a respiratory enzyme cytochrome oxidase was used to study the visual cortex areas 17 and 18 and the lateral geniculate nucleus. It was shown that in kittens that were subjected to this stimulation as opposed to intact animals and to kittens reared under the conditions of mesopic illumination, specific changes in pattern of cytochrome oxidase distribution in area 17 took place. This change was manifested by the appearance of alternating zones of increased and decreased enzyme activity in layers III and IV. Within the cortical area 18 and lateral geniculate nucleus, no changes in the pattern of cytochrome oxidase activity distribution were detected in experimental kittens. It is suggested that flickering illumination results in disequilibrium of Y- and X-visual pathway activity.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Merkul'eva
authors.forename: F N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Makarov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005425:Flicker Fusion; D008027:Light; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV