Reorganization of thalamo-cortical connections in mice dewhiskered since birth.

Localizations of thalamic relay neurons of vibrissae, common fur of the muzzle and head, as well as those projecting to the cortical vibrissal field in mice with vibrissae coagulated at birth, have been studied by retrograde transport of peroxydase. The tracer was injected in the corresponding cortical areas. In coagulated mice, labeled thalamic neurons were situated in the ventro-basal complex anterior to its vibrissa part, corresponding to the area labeled after intracortical injection of the muzzle and head fur area. These results indicate a reorganization in the origin of thalamo-cortical afferents in coagulated mice.