Contribution of the retinal ON channels to scotopic and photopic spectral sensitivity

1989 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Earl L. Smith ◽  
Ronald S. Harwerth ◽  
M.L.J. Crawford ◽  
Gary C. Duncan
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Sensitivity ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Visible Spectrum ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Long Wavelength ◽  
Rod System ◽  
Cone System ◽  
Organizational Differences ◽  
Functional Inactivation ◽  
Rod And Cone Systems

AbstractVisual information encoded by the middle-wavelength-sensitive (MWS) and long-wavelength-sensitive (LWS) cones in the primate retina are processed by both depolarizing (ON) and hyperpolarizing (OFF) bipolar cells. In contrast, signals from the short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS) cones and dark-adapted rod photoreceptors are thought to be carried almost exclusively by ON bipolar cells (Gouras & Evers, 1985). Consequently, it would be expected that functional inactivation of the retinal ON channels at the bipolar cell level would produce selective deficits in visual functions mediated by rods and SWS cones. We have examined this hypothesis by injecting rhesus monkeys with 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (APB), a pharmacological agent that reduces the responsiveness of retinal ON neurons, and psychophysically measuring the changes in spectral sensitivities. Under adaptation conditions that isolated rod function, APB caused, as expected, a substantial loss in rod-mediated spectral sensitivity. However, under photopic conditions, cone-mediated spectral sensitivity, including that associated with the SWS cones, was relatively unaffected. These results demonstrate distinct organizational differences between the rod and cone systems; specifically, they indicate that the rod system is more dependent upon retinal ON channels than the cone system. Our failure to find a selective visual deficit related to SWS cone function under photopic viewing conditions suggests that the OFF system can mediate stimulus detection throughout the visible spectrum and that the ability of the OFF system to process signals from the SWS cones has been underestimated.

Spectral sensitivity of the feedback signal from horizontal cells to cones in goldfish retina

1998 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 799-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.A. KRAAIJ ◽  
M. KAMERMANS ◽  
H. SPEKREIJSE
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Sensitivity ◽  
Horizontal Cell ◽  
Horizontal Cells ◽  
Feedback Signal ◽  
Cell Systems ◽  
Long Wavelength ◽  
Cell Recording ◽  
Cone System ◽  
Goldfish Retina ◽  
Uv Range

The spectral sensitivity of cones in isolated goldfish retina was determined with whole-cell recording techniques. Three spectral classes of cones were found with maximal sensitivities around 620 nm, 540 nm, and 460 nm. UV-cones were not found because our stimulator did not allow effective stimulation in the UV range. The spectral sensitivity of the cones closely matched the cone photopigment absorption spectra at the long wavelength side of the spectrum, but deviated significantly at shorter wavelengths. Surround stimulation induced an inward current in cones due to feedback from horizontal cells. The spectral sensitivity of this feedback signal was determined in all three cone classes and found to be broader than the spectral sensitivity of the cones recorded from, and to be spectrally nonopponent. These data are consistent with a connectivity scheme between cones and horizontal cells in which the three horizontal cell systems feed back to all cone systems and in which all horizontal cell systems receive input from more than one cone system.

scholarly journals Cone contributions to cat retinal ganglion cell receptive fields.

1980 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 763-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
R A Crocker ◽  
J Ringo ◽  
M L Wolbarsht ◽  
H G Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Receptive Field ◽  
Ganglion Cell ◽  
Spectral Sensitivity ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Receptive Fields ◽  
The Other ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
Rod System ◽  
Sensitivity Curves ◽  
Cone System

Extracellular microelectrode recordings were made from ganglion cells of the intact, in situ eyes of adult common domestic cats. Three different photopic systems, with peak spectral sensitivities at 450, 500, and 556 nm, were observed. All ganglion cells received input from a cone system with a peak spectral sensitivity of 556 nm. The blue-sensitive cone system was observed in about one-half of the ganglion cells studied. In each case the 450-nm cone system contributed to only one functional type of response, either ON or OFF, in the same cell. The other two photopic systems most often contributed to both the ON and OFF responses of an individual ganglion cell. In four cases the 450-nm cone system mediated responses that were opponent to those of the other two photopic systems. The third photopic mechanism has a peak spectral sensitivity at 500 nm and contributed to most receptive field surrounds and many receptive field centers. It is distinguished from the rod system by the occurrence of a break in both dark-adaptation curves and increment-sensitivity curves. No apparent differences in receptive field cone contributions between brisk-sustained and brisk-transient cells were seen.

The Sensitivity of Housefly Photoreceptors in the Mid-Ultraviolet and the Limits of the Visible Spectrum

1968 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 669-677
Author(s):  
TIMOTHY H. GOLDSMITH ◽  
HECTOR R. FERNANDEZ
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Sensitivity ◽  
Visual Pigment ◽  
Visible Spectrum ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Long Wavelength ◽  
Wavelength Limit ◽  
Sharp Band ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Filtering Effect ◽  
Spectral Sensitivity Curve

1. The spectral sensitivity of the photoreceptors of a white-eye mutant of the housefly Musca domestica has been measured to 250 nm. in the mid-ultraviolet. Maximum sensitivity is at 340-350 nm., as in the wild-type eye, and decreases at shorter wavelengths with a distinct shoulder at 280 nm. 2. Microspectrophotometric measurements of individual corneal facets show little absorption at wavelengths longer than 300 nm. but a sharp band (peak density about 0.4) at 277 nm. Adjustment of the spectral sensitivity curve for the filtering effect of the cornea makes the 280 nm. shoulder more prominent, suggesting the presence of energy transfer from the protein component of the visual pigment to the chromophore. 3. The short-wavelength limit of the housefly's visible spectrum is determined by the availability of ultraviolet light and is about 300 nm. in nature. The long-wavelength limit is set by the falling absorption of the visual pigment in the red.

Effect of sawtooth polarity on chromatic and luminance detection

1994 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 491-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. DeMarco ◽  
Vivianne C. Smith ◽  
Joel Pokorny
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Sensitivity ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Visible Spectrum ◽  
Macaque Monkey ◽  
Long Wavelength ◽  
Sensitivity Functions ◽  
Psychophysical Studies ◽  
Wavelength Light ◽  
Higher Sensitivity ◽  
Sawtooth Waveform

AbstractPsychophysical studies have documented that many observers show lower thresholds for rapid-off than for rapid-on sawtooth luminance modulation. This finding, together with physiological findings from chromatically opponent ganglion cells of the macaque monkey, prompted a search for a similar bias in psychophysical detection of chromatic increments and decrements of light. Using a luminance pedestal in conjunction with a luminance background to favor detection by chromatic mechanisms, we measured spectral sensitivity for rapid-on and rapid-off sawtooth stimuli presented spatially coextensive with the pedestal. There were two different pedestal chromaticities: one broadband, and the second composed only of long-wavelength light to enhance short-wavelength-sensitive, cone-mediated detection. Spectral-sensitivity measurements for different wavelength stimuli revealed no systematic differences across the visible spectrum as a function of sawtooth waveform polarity or pedestal chromaticity. Similarly, temporal contrast-sensitivity functions for hetero-chromatically modulated red-green sawtooth stimuli did not reveal an asymmetry in sensitivity for rapid-red and rapid-green chromatic change. Some of the observers showed a higher sensitivity for luminance modulated rapid-off sawtooth stimuli, as also noted in previous studies. This asymmetry was not found when a white luminance pedestal and background was used. These results suggest that the cone inputs to chromatically opponent ON- and OFF-center cells are sufficiently balanced to provide equivalent psychophysical thresholds for chromatic increments and decrements of light.

scholarly journals Synaptic vesicle dynamics in mouse rod bipolar cells

2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 523-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
QUN-FANG WAN ◽  
ALEJANDRO VILA ◽  
ZHEN-YU ZHOU ◽  
RUTH HEIDELBERGER
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Vesicle ◽  
Time Constant ◽  
Active Zone ◽  
Bipolar Cell ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
Vesicle Dynamics ◽  
Rod Bipolar Cells

AbstractTo better understand synaptic signaling at the mammalian rod bipolar cell terminal and pave the way for applying genetic approaches to the study of visual information processing in the mammalian retina, synaptic vesicle dynamics and intraterminal calcium were monitored in terminals of acutely isolated mouse rod bipolar cells and the number of ribbon-style active zones quantified. We identified a releasable pool, corresponding to a maximum of ≈35 vesicles/ribbon-style active zone. Following depletion, this pool was refilled with a time constant of ≈7 s. The presence of a smaller, rapidly releasing pool and a small, fast component of refilling was also suggested. Following calcium channel closure, membrane surface area was restored to baseline with a time constant that ranged from 2 to 21 s depending on the magnitude of the preceding Ca2+ transient. In addition, a brief, calcium-dependent delay often preceded the start of onset of membrane recovery. Thus, several aspects of synaptic vesicle dynamics appear to be conserved between rod-dominant bipolar cells of fish and mammalian rod bipolar cells. A major difference is that the number of vesicles available for release is significantly smaller in the mouse rod bipolar cell, both as a function of the total number per neuron and on a per active zone basis.

Electroretinographic Determination of Spectral Sensitivity in Albino and Pigmented Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis, Mitchill)

1971 ◽  
Vol 49 (12) ◽  
pp. 1030-1037 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Kobayashi ◽  
M. A. Ali
Keyword(s):  
Absorption Spectrum ◽  
Spectral Sensitivity ◽  
Brook Trout ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Narrow Band ◽  
Visible Spectrum ◽  
The Difference

A technique for recording electroretinograms from the unpunctured eyes in situ of living, anesthetized fish is described. This technique permits the use of the same fish in a number of experiments over a period of weeks, months, or years. Using this technique the spectral sensitivity of dark-adapted (scotopic) and light-adapted (photopic) fish was measured at 13 bands of the visible spectrum. The scotopic curves of albino and pigmented trout thus obtained in the winter have their maxima around 525 nm which differ from that of the absorption spectrum of the scotopic pigment in situ and in vitro of older fish obtained in the summer. The photopic curve of the pigmented fish is a broad one with humps around 425 nm, 545 nm, and 595 nm. The albino's curve has a relatively narrow band with a peak around 630 nm and a shoulder at about 550 nm. The difference between the shapes of the two curves may be ascribed to the increase in the intensity of light of longer wavelengths within the eyeball of the albino, due to reflection from blood vessels and sclera caused by the absence of pigmentation.

S cones: Evolution, retinal distribution, development, and spectral sensitivity

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID M. HUNT ◽  
LEO PEICHL
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Sensitivity ◽  
Spectral Characteristics ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Long Wavelength ◽  
Representative Species ◽  
Cone Pathway ◽  
Cone Development ◽  
High Acuity ◽  
Retinal Distribution

AbstractS cones expressing the short wavelength-sensitive type 1 (SWS1) class of visual pigment generally form only a minority type of cone photoreceptor within the vertebrate duplex retina. Hence, their primary role is in color vision, not in high acuity vision. In mammals, S cones may be present as a constant fraction of the cones across the retina, may be restricted to certain regions of the retina or may form a gradient across the retina, and in some species, there is coexpression of SWS1 and the long wavelength-sensitive (LWS) class of pigment in many cones. During retinal development, SWS1 opsin expression generally precedes that of LWS opsin, and evidence from genetic studies indicates that the S cone pathway may be the default pathway for cone development. With the notable exception of the cartilaginous fishes, where S cones appear to be absent, they are present in representative species from all other vertebrate classes. S cone loss is not, however, uncommon; they are absent from most aquatic mammals and from some but not all nocturnal terrestrial species. The peak spectral sensitivity of S cones depends on the spectral characteristics of the pigment present. Evidence from the study of agnathans and teleost fishes indicates that the ancestral vertebrate SWS1 pigment was ultraviolet (UV) sensitive with a peak around 360 nm, but this has shifted into the violet region of the spectrum (>380 nm) on many separate occasions during vertebrate evolution. In all cases, the shift was generated by just one or a few replacements in tuning-relevant residues. Only in the avian lineage has tuning moved in the opposite direction, with the reinvention of UV-sensitive pigments.

An anomaly in the response of the eye to light of short wavelengths

1977 ◽  
Vol 278 (960) ◽  
pp. 207-240 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Spectral Sensitivity ◽  
Large Range ◽  
Fusion Frequency ◽  
Long Wavelength ◽  
Human Eye ◽  
Vision Experiment ◽  
Wavelength Light

Adaptation of the human eye to long-wavelength light leaves it insensitive to short-wavelengths: a blue flash that is visible in the presence of a yellow adapting field may remain invisible for several seconds after the field has been turned off (see experiment 1 and Appendix). This ‘transient tritanopia’ occurs for a large range of adapting intensities, but is abolished if the adapting field is very bright (experiment 2). The loss of sensitivity is primarily confined to the blue-sensitive cone mechanism (experiments 2 a , 3 and 4 ; and Appendix) and can be produced by small attenuations of the adapting field (experiment 5). It occurs in both foveal and parafoveal vision (experiment 6) but is absent when adapting and test stimuli are presented to opposite eyes (experiment 7). It was found in a protanope (experiment 9 a ) and, in a modified form, in a deuteranope (experiment 9 b ). No differences in sensitivity were found for blue flashes presented in the light and dark phases of a field flickering at a rate above the fusion frequency (Appendix). The sensitivity of the blue-sensitive mechanism of the eye appears to be controlled not only by quanta absorbed by the blue receptors but also by a mechanism with a different spectral sensitivity

Molecular Evidence of Long Wavelength Spectral Sensitivity in the Reverse Sexually Dichromatic Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata)

Copeia ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 546-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlin J. Fisher ◽  
Danielle L. Recupero ◽  
Aaron W. Schrey ◽  
Matthew J. Draud
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Sensitivity ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Convict Cichlid ◽  
Long Wavelength ◽  
Amatitlania Nigrofasciata

APB differentially affects the cone contributions to the zebrafish ERG

2002 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 521-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHANNON SASZIK ◽  
AMBER ALEXANDER ◽  
TIMOTHY LAWRENCE ◽  
JOSEPH BILOTTA
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Spectral Sensitivity ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Short Wavelength ◽  
Wavelength Region ◽  
Wave Component ◽  
Adult Zebrafish ◽  
Short Wavelength Region ◽  
Long Wavelength ◽  
Sensitivity Functions

APB (DL-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid) has been found to affect the retinal processing of many vertebrate species as evidenced by the suppression of the b-wave component of the electroretinogram (ERG). The present study examined the effects of APB on the cone contributions to the ERG response of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). ERG responses were obtained from light-adapted adult zebrafish following intravitreal injection of either saline alone or saline with various concentrations of APB ranging from 10 μm to 500 μM. Visual stimuli were 200-ms flashes of various wavelengths and irradiances. Spectral sensitivity functions were calculated from the irradiance versus response amplitude functions of the a-, b-, and d-wave components of the ERG response. Saline had no effects on the ERG response. However, APB had differential effects on the sensitivity of the b- and d-wave components. The effects of APB on the b-wave component were most apparent in the ultraviolet and short-wavelength portions (320–440 nm) of the spectral sensitivity function, although the b-wave was not completely eliminated at these wavelengths. APB-treated subjects were found to possess the same cone mechanisms (L-M and M-S) in the middle- and long-wavelength areas of the spectrum as saline injected subjects, although absolute sensitivity was lower for the APB-injected subjects. Spectral sensitivity based on the d-wave response was affected by APB but only in the short-wavelength region. All results appear to be independent of the APB dose. These results support the notion that glutamate receptors play a specific role in zebrafish visual processing. In addition, the effects of APB support recent anatomical evidence that the zebrafish retina may possess different types of glutamate receptors.

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