Possible role of acetylcholine in the mediation of non-retinal input to the lateral geniculate nucleus region.

In these series of experiments, the effects of acetylcholine and related substances administered by iontophoresis or by intravenous injection, have been examined on neurones of the lateral geniculate nucleus region to see whether non-retinal inputs on these cells use acetylcholine as a mediator. Quantitative analysis has shown that the somatic induced facilitation of the visual responses evoked in the lateral geniculate nucleus is suppressed after intravenous administration of atropine. This observation favors the intervention of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the mediation of non-retinal inputs to the lateral geniculate nucleus region.