Quantitative histological studies on the lateral geniculate nucleus in the cat. II. Cell numbers and densities in the several layers.

Abstract

In the cat lateral geniculate nucleus all cells of all types were counted: their absolute numbers, their densities and their relative distribution. The nuclear volume and the volume of each layer was measured. The data of volume was applied on living material. The average densities of cells were calculated from the volume of LGN. The density of the cells was combined with the "specific active dendritic sphere" of relay neurons and it could be estimated that there may be a large number of spatially overlaping of ramification points around the cell body of relay neurons.