Contributions of Y- and W-cell pathways to response properties of cat superior colliculus neurons: comparison of antibody- and deprivation-induced alterations.

The cat's superior colliculus (SC) receives direct inputs from retinal W-cells (a W-D input) and Y-cells (Y-D input) and an indirect Y-cell input via the lateral geniculate nucleus and visual cortex (Y-I input). In previous studies we have shown that intraocular injection of antibodies raised against large retinal ganglion cells produces a dose-dependent reduction in the Y retinogeniculate pathway. Furthermore, when a sufficiently high antibody concentration is used, there is a substantial loss of the Y pathway and no apparent loss of the W pathway. In the present study, we used the antibodies to investigate the contributions of the Y and W pathways to functional organization within the SC. Binocular injections of low (330 micrograms/100 microliters) or high (1,000 micrograms/100 microliters) antibody concentrations were made. The antibody-mediated effects on SC cells' response properties were compared directly with effects of early binocular deprivation, which have been attributed to a loss of Y-I input. Extracellular single-cell recordings were made from the SC, and cells were classified as receiving Y-D, Y-I, or W-D inputs on the basis of their response latencies to electrical stimulation of the optic chiasm and optic tract. Injections of the low antibody concentration produced no significant effects on inputs to the SC. However, injections of the high antibody concentration resulted in a 70% reduction in SC cells with a Y-D input and an 82% reduction in SC cells with a Y-I input. There was no effect on the percentage of cells with a W-D input. Binocular deprivation produced a 76% reduction in the percentage of cells with Y-I input. Visual response properties of SC cells also were assessed. Injections of the high antibody concentration produced a 55% reduction in cells that respond with a directional preference and a 51% reduction in cells that respond to high-velocity stimuli. Binocular deprivation produced a 78% reduction in the proportion of directional cells and a 25% reduction in cells that respond to the ipsilateral eye. Taken together, the results of this and previous studies using cortical lesions, visual deprivation, and immunoablation suggest that Y-D input is the primary basis for responses to high stimulus velocity, Y-I input is an important basis for directional responses and response through the ipsilateral eye, and W-D input is important for responses to low stimulus velocity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)