Organization of on-off cells in the retina of the turtle.

Abstract

1. The organization of central and peripheral responses for one type of spike-producing cell in the retina of the turtle (Pseudemys scripta elegans) has been studied. These cells produced a short burst of spikes following the onset and offset of a small spot of illumination (i.e. ON-OFF cells). The effect of increasing the area of illumination was to include a peripheral inhibition. Intracellular ON and OFF responses were, however, affected differently.2. ON-OFF cells marked intracellularly with Procion Yellow M4R had somata in the inner nuclear and ganglion cell layers.3. Peripheral inhibition could be evoked without a change in the membrane potential of horizontal cells.4. Passing 5 nA hyperpolarizing or depolarizing current through a micropipette within a horizontal cell elicited in ON-OFF cells a transient excitation following the onset and offset of current.5. It is concluded that inhibition from the periphery of an ON-OFF cell receptive field is not mediated by luminosity horizontal cells but more probably by peripheral bipolar cells.

• Authors: E A Schwartz
• Journal: The Journal of physiology (J Physiol) Vol. 230 Issue 1 Pg. 1-14 (Apr 1973) ISSN: 0022-3751 [Print] England
• PMID: 4702424 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Action Potentials
• Animals
• In Vitro Techniques
• Membrane Potentials
• Neural Inhibition
• Neurons (physiology)
• Photic Stimulation
• Retina (cytology, innervation, physiology)
• Turtles (physiology)
• Visual Fields