[Morphological analysis of the formation of cluster organization of neurons, forming the corticocortical connections in the cat visual cortex in early postnatal ontogenesis]

The development of cluster organization of neurons forming direct interzonal associative projections from striate cortex (area 17) to extrastriate area 21a in cat was studied by a technique of horseradish peroxidase retrograde transport. Reconstruction of cortical region containing retrogradely labeled neurons was performed using continuous serial sections of the brain. The analysis of spatial organization was done and quantitative characteristics of distribution pattern of initial corticocortical neurons in striate cortex in kittens were obtained. Interzonal connections were detected since 14th postnatal day. Neuronal cluster organization started forming after day 21 while its pattern became similar to that in the adult animal both qualitatively and quantitatively by the end of the 2nd postnatal month, that is somewhat later than it was previously thought. The data obtained also demonstrate the age-dependent decrease in the convergence of the striate cortex projections to area 21a associated with the reduction of the area, occupied by initial neurons.