Orderly structural organization of intrahemispheric interzonal connections in the cat visual cortex

The study was aimed at morphometric analysis of cluster organization of neurons, forming interzonal cortico-cortical connections within the visual cortex. The study employed the technique based on horseradish peroxidase retrograde transport and methods of mathematical analysis of spatial distribution of labeled cells. The quantitative characteristics of cell distribution were obtained including cluster volume and linear dimensions, distances between their centers of gravity, periodicity and distribution along cortical surface. Age-related peculiarities in the distribution of initial cells of cortical interzonal connections were found. It was demonstrated that adult cluster organization pattern was established by the end of the second postnatal month. Quantitative differences in the spatial distribution of neuronal groups in the visual cortical areas 17 and 18 were determined.