Evoked potential in the lateral geniculate body as modified by enucleation of one eye in the albino rat

Summary Evoked potential was recorded from the lateral geniculate body (LGB) in response to stimulation of the uncrossed optic nerve in rats with one eye removed at varying days of age after birth. A postsynaptic component of the evoked potential was found to be potentiated if the enucleation was made during the first 30 postnatal days. It was speculated that when enucleation was made during 10 days after birth potentiation would be brought about by an increase in the number of the uncrossed optic nerve fibers, but enucleation after that period would produce potentiation by terminal sprouting of the regular uncrossed optic nerve fibers. In addition, the possibility was discussed that enucleation in the first 30 days might also produce potentiation by a more efficient or more numerous transmitter release at the regular uncrossed optic nerve terminals.