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Updated: Oct 12, 2026

Recording Light-evoked Postsynaptic Responses in Neurons in Dark-adapted, Mouse Retinal Slice Preparations Using Patch Clamp Techniques
Published on: February 11, 2015
Spike-like potentials in the axons of nonspiking photoreceptors
M Weckström1, M Järvilehto, K Heimonen
1Department of Physiology, University of Oulu, Finland.
Abstract:
1. The voltage responses to light of dark-adapted cockroach photoreceptors were recorded from the somata in the retina and the axons below the two basement membranes. 2. One or more spike-like fast depolarizations superimposed on the graded receptor potential were recorded in photoreceptor axons identified by Lucifer yellow injections. These spikes are voltage dependent in as much as they could be elicited with depolarizing current pulses as well as with light stimuli. In photoreceptor somata only graded receptor potentials were recorded. 3. The physiological function of these axonal spikes may be to serve as an amplification mechanism that counteracts the unfavorable combination of photoreceptor geometry and electrical properties.
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