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Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Simultaneous Whole-cell Recordings from Photoreceptors and Second-order Neurons in an Amphibian Retinal Slice Preparation
Published on: June 1, 2013
Nitric oxide controls the light adaptive chromatic difference in receptive field size of H1 horizontal cell network
Tetsuo Furukawa1, Renata Petruv, Syozo Yasui
1Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan.
Abstract:
In carp retina, the receptive field size of the H1-type horizontal cell (HC) network is known to be chromatically selective, as electrophysiological signals are generated by short-wavelength (SW) light stimuli, which spread much less than those for long-wavelength (LW). We have shown previously that the signalling mechanism underlying this chromatic difference operates only in the light-adapted retina and that it involves cGMP as an intermediary messenger. In the present study, the possible role of nitric oxide (NO) as such a control mechanism was investigated. Application of a NO donor (SNP or SNOG) to dark-adapted retinae produced a chromatic difference in the receptive field size, such as in the light-adapted state. This effect was due mainly to a reduction in the spread of signals generated by SW stimuli; LW signalling spread was not altered. No such effect was observed in light-adapted retinae where a chromatic difference in receptive field size was already present. On the other hand, application of the NO 'scavenger' haemoglobin to light-adapted retinae suppressed the chromatic difference. These results are consistent with NO being a light-adaptive retinal neuromodulator involved in the generation of the chromatic difference in H1 cell receptive field size. These results are discussed in the context of two different hypotheses.
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