Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T14:17:25.125Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Contributions to the electroretinogram of currents originating in proximal retina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

Laura J. Frishman
Affiliation:
Departments of Physiology and Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco
Paul A. Sieving
Affiliation:
Departments of Physiology and Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco
Roy H. Steinberg
Affiliation:
Departments of Physiology and Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco

Abstract

We have investigated responses in proximal retina of the cat that contribute to two kinds of electroretinogram (ERG) recordings: (1) the pattern ERG, a light-adapted response and (2) the threshold and near threshold ERG, a dark-adapted response (Sieving et al., 1986a, 1986b; Sieving & Steinberg, 1985). In intraretinal, extracellular recordings, two negative-going responses were identified that are maximal around the inner plexiform layer, and distinct from PII, which is maximal in distal retina: under light-adapted conditions, a spatially tuned response at light onset and light offset, the “M-wave” (previously described in cold-blooded animals by Karwoski & Proenza (1977, 1980)), and under dark-adapted conditions, the scotopic threshold response, or “STR,” a response at light onset. The results under dark-adapted conditions are examined in more detail here.

The STR is a very sensitive response whose threshold is 1.5–2.0 log units below that of the dc-component of PII and therefore well below the threshold of the a-, b-, and c-waves. It saturates about 2.4 log units below rod saturation. The STR contributes a negative-going potential to the dark-adapted ERG that is dominant near threshold; while PII (dc-component and b-wave) contributes a positive-going potential that is dominant at higher intensities (Sieving et al., 1986b). Investigation of the mechanism of the proximal retinal responses that contribute to the ERG supports a K+-Müller cell hypothesis of their origin.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arden, G.B. & Brown, K.T. (1965). Some properties of components of the cat electroretinogram revealed by local recording under oil. Journal of Physiology (London) 176, 429461.Google Scholar
Bito, L.Z. (1970). Intraocular fluid dynamics. I. Steady-state concentration gradients of magnesium, potassium, and calcium in relation to the sites and mechanisms of ocular cation transport process. Experimental Eye Research 10, 102116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, K.T. & Wiesel, T.N. (1961 a). Analysis of the intraretinal electroretinogram in the intact cat eye. Journal of Physiology (London) 158, 229256.Google Scholar
Brown, K.T. & Wiesel, T.N. (1961 b). Localization of origins of electroretinogram components by intraretinal recording in the intact cat eye. Journal of Physiology (London) 158, 257280.Google Scholar
Burkhardt, D.A. (1970). Proximal negative response in the frog retina. Journal of Neurophysiology 33, 405420.Google Scholar
Dawson, W.W., Matda, T.M. & Rubin, M.L. (1982). Human pattern evoked responses are altered by optic atrophy. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 22, 796803.Google Scholar
Dick, E. & Miller, R.F. (1985). Extracellular K+ activity changes related to electroretinogram components. 1. Amphibian (I-type) retinas. Journal of General Physiology 85, 885909.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dick, E., Miller, R.F. & Bloomfield, S. (1985). Extracellular K+ activity changes related to electroretinogram components. II. Rabbit (E-type) retinas. Journal of General Physiology 85, 911931.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dowling, J.E. & Rtpps, H. (1977). The proximal negative response and visual adaptation in the skate retina. Journal of General Physiology 69, 5774.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Faber, D.S. (1969). Analysis of slow transretinal potentials in response to light. (Ph.D. thesis). Buffalo NY: State University of New York.Google Scholar
Finkelstern, D., Gouras, P. & Hoff, M. (1968). Human electroretinogram near the absolute threshold of vision. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 7, 214218.Google Scholar
Fiorentini, A., Maffei, L., Plrchio, M., Spinelli, D. & Porciatti, V. (1981). The ERG in response to alternating gratings in patients with diseases of the peripheral visual pathways. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 21, 490493.Google Scholar
Frishman, L.J. & Steinberg, R.H. (1985). Light-evoked changes in [K+]o in the proximal retina of the cat that correspond to the M-wave component of the ERG. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science (Suppl.) 26, 312.Google Scholar
Harding, T.H. & Enroth-Cugell, C. (1978). Absolute dark sensitivity and center size in cat retinal ganglion cells. Brain Research 153, 157162.Google Scholar
Jacobson, S.G. & Ikeda, H. (1983). Electroretinogram below b-wave threshold in the cat: studies of retinal development and retinal degeneration. Documenta Ophthalmologica Proceedings Series 37, 6572.Google Scholar
Karwoski, C.J. & Proenza, L.M. (1977). Relationship between Müller cell responses, a local transretinal potential, and potassium flux. Journal of Neurophysiology 40, 244259.Google Scholar
Karwoski, C.J. & Proenza, L.M. (1980). Neurons, potassium, and glia in proximal retina of Necturus. Journal of General Physiology 75, 141162.Google Scholar
Karwoski, C.J. & Proenza, L.M. (1981). Spatio-temporal variables in the relationship of neuronal activity to potassium and glial responses. Vision Research 21, 17131718.Google Scholar
Kline, R.P., Ripps, H. & Dowling, J.E. (1978). The generation of b-wave currents in the skate retina. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 75, 57275731.Google Scholar
Knave, B., Moller, A. & Perrson, H. (1972). A component analysis of the electroretinogram. Vision Research 12, 16691684.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kolb, H. & Nelson, R. (1983). Rod pathways in the retina of the cat. Vision Research 23, 301312.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Linsenmeier, R.A. & Steinberg, R.H. (1982). Origin and sensitivity of the light peak in the intact cat eye. Journal of Physiology (London) 331, 653673.Google Scholar
Linsenmeier, R.A. & Steinberg, R.H. (1984). Effects of hypoxia on potassium homeostasis and pigment epithelial cells in the cat retina. Journal of General Physiology 84, 945970.Google Scholar
Maffei, L. & Fiorentini, A. (1981). Electroretinographic responses to alternating gratings before and after section of the optic nerve. Science (Washington DC) 211, 953955.Google Scholar
Maffei, L. & Fiorentini, A. (1982). Electroretinographic responses to alternating gratings. Experimental Brain Research 48, 327334.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maffei, L., Fiorentini, A., Bisti, S. & Hollander, H. (1985). Pattern ERG in the monkey after section of the optic nerve. Experimental Brain Research 59, 423425.Google Scholar
Miller, R.F. & Dowling, J.E. (1970). Intracellular responses of Müller (glial) cells of mudpuppy retina: their relation to the b-wave of the electroretinogram. Journal of Neurophysiology 33, 323341.Google Scholar
Nelson, R. & Kolb, H. (1985). A17: A broad field amacrine cell in the rod system of the cat retina. Journal of Neurophysiology 54, 592614.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Newman, E.A. (1980). Current source density analysis of the b-wave of frog retina. Journal of Neurophysiology 43, 13551366.Google Scholar
Newman, E.A. & Odette, L.L. (1984). Model of electroretinogram b-wave generation: a test of the K+ hypothesis. Journal of Neurophysiology 51, 164182.Google Scholar
Oakley, B. II., (1977). Potassium and the photoreceptor-dependent pigment epithelial hyperpolarization. Journal of General Physiology 70, 405425.Google Scholar
Oakley, B. II, & Green, D.G. (1976). Correlation of light-induced changes in extracellular potassium concentration with the c-wave of the electroretinogram. Journal of Neurophysiology 39, 11171133.Google Scholar
Oakley, B. II, Steinberg, R.H., Miller, S.S. & Nilsson, S.E. (1977). The in vitro frog pigment epithelial cell hyperpolarization in response to light. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 16, 771774.Google ScholarPubMed
Proenza, L.M. & Burkhardt, D.A. (1973). Proximal negative response and retinal sensitivity in the mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus. Journal of Neurophysiology 36, 502518.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sieving, P.A., Frishman, L.J. & Steinberg, R.H. (1986 a). M-wave of proximal retina in cat. Journal of Neurophysiology 56, 10391048.Google Scholar
Sieving, P.A., Frishman, L.J. & Steinberg, R.H. (1986 b). Scotopic threshold response of proximal retina in cat. Journal of Neurophysiology 56, 10491061.Google Scholar
Sieving, P.A. & Nino, C. (1988). Scotopic threshold response (STR) of the human electroretinogram. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science In press.Google Scholar
Sieving, P.A. & Steinberg, R.H. (1985). Contribution from proximal retina to intraretinal pattern ERG: the M-wave. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 26, 16421647.Google ScholarPubMed
Sieving, P.A. & Steinberg, R.H. (1986). Proximal retinal contribution to the intraretinal 8-Hz pattern ERG of cat. Journal of Neurophysiology 57, 104120.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sillman, A.J., Ito, H. & Tomtta, T. (1969). Studies on the mass receptor potential of the isolated frog retina. I. General properties of the response. Vision Research 9, 14351442.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Slaughter, M.M. & Miller, R.F. (1981). 2-amino-4-phosphono-butyric acid—a new pharmacological tool for retina research. Science (NY) 211, 182185.Google Scholar
Steinberg, R.H. (1969). Comparison of the intraretinal b-wave and d.c. component in the area centralis of cat retina. Vision Research 9, 317331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Steinberg, R.H., Linsenmeier, R.A. & Griff, E.R. (1985). Retinal pigment epithelial cell contributions to the electroretinogram and electrooculogram. Progress in Retinal Research 4, 3366.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Steinberg, R.H., Oakley, B. II, & Niemeyer, G. (1980). Light-evoked changes in [K+]o retina of intact cat eye. Journal of Neurophysiology 44, 897921.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sterling, P., Freed, M.A. & Smith, R.G. (1986). Microcircuitry and functional architecture of the cat retina. Trends in Neuroscience 9, 186192.Google Scholar
Vaegen, , Arden, G.B. & Hogg, C.R. (1982). Properties of normal electroretinograms evoked by patterned stimuli in man. Abnormalities in optic nerve diseases and amblyopia. Documenta Opthalmologica Proceedings Series 31, 111129.Google Scholar
Vogel, M. (1978). Postnatal development of the cat's retina. Advances in Anatomy, Embryology, and Cell Biology 54, F. 4.Google Scholar
Wakabayashi, K., Gieser, J. & Sieving, P.A. (1988). Aspartate separation of the scotopic threshold response (STR) from the photorecptor a-wave of the cat and monkey ERG. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, In press.Google Scholar
Zrenner, E., Baker, C.L., Hess, R.F. & Olsen, B.T. (1986). Current source density analysis of linear and nonlinear components of the primate electroretinogram. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science (Suppl.) 27, 242.Google Scholar