title: Contributions to the electroretinogram of currents originating in proximal retina.
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 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 of K(+)-Müller cell hypothesis of their origin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0444.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Frishman
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sieving
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Steinberg
mesh_terms: D000221:Adaptation, Ocular; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D003623:Dark Adaptation; D004596:Electroretinography; D008027:Light; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds