The structural correlate of the receptive field centre of alpha ganglion cells in the cat retina.

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Abstract
The correlation between the receptive field center and the dendritic tree of individual brisk transient, or .alpha., ganglion cells in the cat retina was investigated by a combination of physiological and anatomical techniques. The sizes of receptive field centers of brisk transient (Y) cells were measured with a flickering spot of light. Contour maps and response (or sensitivity) profiles were measured at mesopic and scotopic backgrounds. Recording positions on the retina and nearby blood vessels were back-projected onto the receptive field plots on the tangent screen. After recording, whole mount preparations of the retinae were stained by a reduced Ag method to stain all .alpha. cells together with their dendritic trees. By comparing the landmarks on the screen plot with those of the whole mount it was possible to identify the recorded cells in the preparations and to study their morphology. The dendritic tree of an .alpha. cell determines the position, size and shape of its receptive field center. The mesopic receptive field centers were found to be a factor of 1.4 .+-. 0.1 larger than their respective dendritic fields. The dendritic fields of presynaptic neurones (bipolar and amacrine cell processes) add to the ganglion cell dendritic tree to produce the larger center summating area.