Participation of the GABAergic system in the action of 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate on the OFF responses of frog retinal ganglion cells.

Perfusion of dark adapted frog eyecups with the ON pathway blocker 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (APB) not only abolished the ganglion cells (GCs)' ON responses and the ERG b-wave, but it markedly potentiated the OFF responses of all ON-OFF and phasic OFF GCs and the d-wave amplitude of a simultaneously recorded ERG as well. The blockade of GABA(A) and GABA(C) receptors by picrotoxin eliminated this potentiating effect in 24 out of 41 GCs, although in the rest of the cells it did not produce any change in the APB effect. On the other hand, the d-wave potentiation was preserved during the GABAergic blockade in all experiments.

Effect of GABAergic blockade on light responses of frog retinal ganglion cells.

The effect of GABAergic blockade by picrotoxin on ganglion cells (GC) activity was investigated in perfused dark adapted eyecups of frog (Rana ridibunda). PT had diverse effects on the light responses of GC in contrast to its uniform potentiating effect on the amplitude of the ERG b- and d-wave. In some (n=32) of PT-sensitive ON-OFF GC the ON and OFF responses were changed in a similar manner (both responses were potentiated or both were inhibited), but in the other (n=10) the both responses were changed in a different manner.

Immunocytochemical and electrophysiological characterization of GABA receptors in the frog and turtle retina.

The expression of GABA receptors (GABARs) was studied in frog and turtle retinae. Using immunocytochemical methods, GABA(A)Rs and GABA(C)Rs were preferentially localized to the inner plexiform layer (IPL). Label in the IPL was punctate indicating a synaptic clustering of GABARs.

Effect of 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate on the OFF responses of frog retinal ganglion cells and local ERG after glycinergic blockade.

Perfusion with the ON channel blocker 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (APB) of dark adapted frog eyecups not only abolished the ganglion cells' (GC) ON responses and the ERG b-wave, but markedly potentiated the OFF responses of ON-OFF and phasic OFF-GCs and the d-wave amplitude of simultaneously recorded local ERG. Glycinergic blockade by strychnine prevented this potentiating effect in 31 out of 69 GCs, but did not change it at all in the other cells. At the same time the d-wave potentiation was preserved during the glycinergic blockade in all eyecups.

Influence of picrotoxin and strychnine on the spectral sensitivity of the turtle ERG b- and d-waves: II. Light adaptation.

The aim of the present work was to investigate the role of GABA and glycine, the two main inhibitory neurotransmitters in the retina, in the spectral sensitivity coding under conditions of light adaptation. To study this question, spectral sensitivity curves, based on the turtle ERG responses to stimuli of different wavelengths, were constructed. The spectral sensitivity curves.