PURPOSE. To evaluate the effects of ganglion cell depletion from experiment
al glaucoma on the relative metabolic activities of neurons in the cytochro
me oxidase blobs of V1 cortex in the macaque visual system.
METHODS. Monocular experimental glaucoma was induced in adult monkeys (Maca
ca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis) by laser application to the trabecular
meshwork, increasing the intraocular pressure. After other experiments, the
primary visual cortices were analyzed for functional excitation from survi
ving ganglion cells, as indicated by cytochrome oxidase histochemistry.
RESULTS. Cytochrome oxidase reactivity was uniformly reduced in blobs with
input from the glaucomatous eye in a manner consistent with loss of known a
fferent inputs. The average size of glaucomatous blobs in layers 2 and 3 of
V1 cortex was reduced by half.
CONCLUSIONS. Experimental glaucoma in monkeys reduces retinal input to the
central nervous system, thereby reducing the metabolic drive to downstream
targets, as indicated by the reduction in the size of cytochrome oxidase bl
obs in layers 2 and 3 of V1 cortex. The pattern of cytochrome oxidase loss
within the blob was uniform, suggesting that all sources of afferent input
to the blobs were affected by experimental glaucoma.