title: Contribution to the kinetics and amplitude of the electroretinogram b-wave by third-order retinal neurons in the rabbit retina.
abstract: The ERG b-wave is widely believed to reflect mainly light-induced activity of on-center bipolar cells and Müller cells. Third-order retinal neurons are thought to contribute negligibly to generation of the b-wave. Here we show that pharmacological agents which affect predominantly third-order neurons alter significantly both the kinetics and amplitude of the b-wave. Our results support the notion that changes in the amplitude and kinetics of light-induced membrane depolarization in third-order neurons produce similar changes in the amplitude and kinetics of the b-wave. We conclude that activity in third-order neurons makes a significant contribution to b-wave generation. Our results also provide evidence that spiking activity of third-order neurons truncates the a-wave by accelerating the onset of the b-wave.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, RD-2C Allergan Inc., Irvine, CA 92612, USA. dong_james@allergan.com
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Hare
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D003292:Convulsants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000187:drug effects; D007700:Kinetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011817:Rabbits; D012160:Retina / Q000293:injuries*; D013331:Strychnine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003292:Convulsants; D013331:Strychnine; D001640:Bicuculline