ERG OFF response in frog retina: light adaptation and effect of 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate

The intensity-response (V/log I) function of ERG OFF response (d-wave) in dark and light adapted superfused frog eyecups was investigated before and after blockade of the retinal ON channel by 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (APB). The V/log I function of the dark adapted d-wave had two distinct components, each of them consisting of an ascendent and descendent part. In eyes adapted to mesopic or photopic background the V/log I function had only one component. It was shifted to the right along the intensity axis, had a steeper slope and a higher maximal response amplitude compared with the two components of the dark-adapted V/log I curve. Perfusion with 200 mumol APB markedly increased the d-wave amplitude at all stimulus intensities except for the threshold ones in both dark and light adapted eyes. The position of the V/log I curve was shifted slightly to the left along the intensity axis in dark adapted eyes, but was not changed in light adapted eyes. Thus the adaptational mechanism responsible for changes in the decremental sensitivity with increased background illumination was not altered by APB. The effect of APB was studied also in chromatically adapted eyes, in which the responses were predominantly mediated by one photoreceptor type. The results showed that the potentiating effect of APB on d-wave did not depend on photoreceptor input.