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Relationship between numbers of retinal ganglion cells and lateral geniculate neurons in the rhesus monkey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

Peter D. Spear ,
Charlene B. Y. Kim ,
Aneeq Ahmad  and
Bryony W. Tom
Peter D. Spear
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Center for Neuroscience, and Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Charlene B. Y. Kim
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Center for Neuroscience, and Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Aneeq Ahmad
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Center for Neuroscience, and Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bryony W. Tom
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Center for Neuroscience, and Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Abstract

Studies of the numbers of retinal ganglion cells and lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) neurons in primates suggest that the numbers of both types of neurons may vary over a two-fold range from one individual to another. This raises the question of whether the numbers of ganglion cells and LGN neurons are related or vary independently from individual to individual. We used stereological procedures to obtain unbiased estimates of the numbers of both cell types in seven rhesus monkeys. We found no significant correlation (rs. = −0.21) between the numbers of retinal and LGN cells in the same animals. In agreement with previous studies, the average ratio of the number of retinal ganglion cells that project to the LGN and the number of LGN cells was approximately 1:1. However, this ratio varied over a two-fold range, from 0.78:1 to 1.64:1, in individual animals. These results have important implications for understanding the mechanisms of retino-geniculate development and for understanding the connectional wiring between the retina and LGN.

Keywords

RetinaLateral geniculate nucleusPrimateGanglion cells
Type
Short Communication
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , January 1996 , pp. 199 - 203
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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