Properties of visual cortical cells of the intact and the deafferented hemisphere of unilateral optic tract sectioned acute and chronic adult cats

Single unit recording from visual cortex areas 17 and 18 and in the border region between them was performed on adult cats with unilateral optic tract section (OTX) either on the day of the operation (acute) or three to six months postoperatively (chronic). Visual activity from both hemispheres was analyzed with respect to the responsiveness level, the ocular dominance distribution and selectivity to orientation and direction. The results showed almost a complete absence of visual responsiveness in the deafferented hemisphere and a considerable reduction of responsiveness in the intact hemisphere. Following surgery an increase in visually responsive cells was found in the intact hemisphere as postoperative recovery continued. In addition, a reduction in the proportion of cells selective for orientation and direction was also found in the intact hemisphere of the OTX animals as compared to the control cats. Furthermore, cortical binocularity was not affected in the intact hemisphere of all OTX cats. We conclude that an almost total absence of interhemispheric callosal transfer of visual functions from the intact to the deafferented hemisphere is induced as a result of the unilateral OTX in adult cats. Moreover, the fact that the absence of cortical binocularity in the hemisphere receiving direct geniculate input was not disrupted, indicates the absence of callosal transfer from the deafferented to the intact hemisphere.