title: The eel retina. Ganglion cell classes and spatial mechanisms.
abstract: We have been able to separate optic fibers in the eye of the eel Anguilla rostrata into two distinct classes on the basis of spatial summation properties. X fibers, the first class, are like X ganglion cells in the cat: they have null positions for contrast reversal sine gratings; they respond at the modulation frequency; and many have a strong surround mechanism. X fibers, the second class, respond with an "on-off" response to local stimulation, to diffuse light modulation, to coarse drifting gratings, and to contrast reversal gratings. We have put forward a model for the receptive field of X fibers which involves two subunits, with rectification before the subunits add their signals. This model accounts for many of the quirks of X fibers.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003623:Dark Adaptation; D004524:Eels / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*