RESUMO
1. The histological organization of the rat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (Cgld) has been analysed in Nissl-preparations following vessel injection with india ink. 2. The findings have been collected by means of a non-automatically visual scanning method. Every point is defined by 3 coordinates. 3. Different parameters have been collected in every point: the number of the 5 structural elements of the nervous tissue (neurons, fragments of capillaries, nuclei of astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia) and the hit points per structural element. 4. In addition the differentiation of about 15500 neurons in relay neurons and interneurons has been carried out. The ratio of the 2 types of neurons is about 14:1. 5. The collected values have been statistically analysed by correlation, regression and discriminatory analyses. 6. The results relate to the correlation between the structural elements and the rostrocaudal, lateromedial and ventrodorsal directions as well as the structural elements with another. 7. At 5 levels the Cgld has been mapped on the basis of neuron size, neuron density, capillary density, density of the 3 types of glial nuclei and the relative number of hit points per structural element. 8. In the Cgld we distinguish 2 portions regarding the neuron size. The mediocellular portion occupies the lateral, ventral and caudal parts and encloses a magnocellular portion like a coat. 9. The distribution pattern of the interneurons does not correlate with the size of neurons. 10. The capillaries tend to have a greater density in the lateral area of the Cgld. 11. The correlation and regression coefficientes and the distribution pattern of the astrocytes and oligodendrocytes suggest that both glial types show a reciproke ratio in the Cgld. 12. The distribution pattern of the microglia is relatively uniform. 13. Mapping the Cgld we have got a model conception of its structural condition corresponding with the common mammalian scheme. 14. By the discriminatory analysis zones of input and fields of projection have been discriminated. It was possible to discriminate the ipsi- and contralateral input zones, but not the binocular and monocular projection fields. 15. The discriminatory analysis allows to show the collective biological effect of all structural elements in a uniform mathematical value.
