5-HT1 receptors in the structures of visual pathway of normal and monocularly deprived kittens.

The density and pattern of distribution of 5-HT1 receptor sites was examined using quantitative in vitro autoradiography with [3H]5-HT as a ligand in the visual structures of 5 weeks old kittens. One group of animals had normal binocular vision, the other was monocularly deprived during the last three days of life. The density of 5-HT1 receptor sites and the pattern of their distribution in the visual structures showed distinct regional, areal and laminar differences. In the primary visual cortex (area 17) a high labelling density was found as compared with other cortical areas investigated. Three bands of high binding density were observed corresponding to cortical layers II-III, IV c and VI. This pattern distinguished area 17 from other cortical areas investigated. In subcortical visual structures very high labelling was present in the superficial visual layers of superior colliculus, but LGN showed rather weak labelling although the lamination of LGN was also seen in the pattern of distribution of 5-HT1 sites. Neither density nor pattern of 5-HT1 sites in the visual cortex and superior colliculus were affected by 3 days of monocular deprivation. High density of labelling and the distinct pattern of 5-HT1 receptor sites in the primary visual cortex suggest the important role of serotonergic transmission in the modulation of visual afferent input activity.