Postnatal maturation of the ipsilateral optic tract in pigmented and albino mice.

After unilateral enucleation, degenerating axons in the ipsilateral optic tract of conventionally reared and dark-reared albino and pigmented mice were revealed by Fink-Heimer staining. The total number and the spatial distribution within the optic tract of these axons was found to be influenced by both pigmentation and by visual deprivation. The results are discussed in terms of delayed maturation of the optic tract contingent upon visual deprivation or anomalous ocular pigmentation.