The c-wave of the electroretinogram possesses a third component from the proximal retina

ERG and light-induced extracellular potassium ([K+]o) changes have been measured in isolated retinas of both Rana esculenta and Rana temporaria. The conditions of the preparations have been varied. Isolated frog retinas kept receptor side-upward in a moist chamber without perfusion showed the well-known slow PIII in the ERG. Retinas superfused from the receptor side, with O2 enrichment at their vitreal surface, however, exhibit a slow cornea-positive potential in the ERG. The slow ERG-potentials relate to different light-induced potassium changes in the proximal retina. There was a long lasting and larger proximal potassium increase in adequately maintained retinas but a smaller and shorter one in preparations lacking superfusion and oxygen. There was no significant difference between the size of potassium decrease around receptors of retinas superfused from their vitreal side and those superfused from receptor side. A reduction of slow PIII should therefore not be responsible for the slow cornea-positive potential. The long lasting and larger (by 59%) potassium increase in the proximal retina may counteract the potential in the Müller cells caused by the potassium decrease around receptors and thereby cancel slow PIII and generate a third component of the electroretinogram c-wave.