BLUE-SENSITIVE CONES OF THE CAT PRODUCE A RODLIKE ELECTRORETINOGRAM

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 18  (10) , 1076-1081
Abstract
Two cone mechanisms are identifiable in the strongly yellow light-adapted electroretinogram (ERG) of the arterially perfused cat eye. One has its maximum spectral sensitivity near 555 nm; the other has its maximum near 450 nm. The former cone system produces a much larger signal with characteristics of a typical cone or inhibitory ERG. The latter cone system produces a small, saturable signal (less than 5 .mu.V) which resembles a rodlike or excitatory ERG. The latter ERG is apparently generated by blue-sensitive cones, which form a small fraction of the total cone population and share some physiological and perhaps anatomical properties of rods.