Abstract
Experimental data indicate that the membrane potential of L-type horizontal cells of the retina to bright light (i.e., when synaptic inputs are completely closed) is close to the potassium equilibrium potential. From this observation the intracellular concentration of K+ and Na+ was estimated. The latter was found to be relatively high (tens of millimoles/liter), i.e., comparable with the intracellular K+ concentration. This result, coupled with data on closeness of the equilibrium potential of the photic response to zero, is evidence that besides sodium conductance, the potassium conductance of the subsynaptic membrane also participates in generation of the photic response by these cells. The steady-state sodium and potassium synaptic currents was shown to be relatively small and to vary only a little over the whole working range of potentials (from −72 to −16 mV), due to the nonlinear properties of the nonsynaptic cell membrane.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
A. L. Byzov and Yu. A. Trifonov, "Electrical properties of the subsynaptic and nonsynaptic membranes of horizontal cells of the turtle retina," Neirofiziologiya,5, No. 4, 423 (1973).
A. L. Byzov, Yu. A. Trifonov, and L. M. Chailakhyan, "The nonsynaptic membrane of retinal horizontal cells as an amplifier of slow potentials," Neirofiziologiya,7, No. 1, 74 (1975).
Yu. A. Trifonov, A. L. Byzov, and L. M. Chailakhyan, "Ionic mechanisms of nonlinearity of the retinal horizontal cell membrane," Neirofiziologiya,13, No. 5, 531 (1981).
Yu. A. Trifonov, K. V. Golubtsov, A. L. Byzov, and L. M. Chailakhyan, "Membrane potential clamping in horizontal cells of the fish retina," Neirofiziologiya,9, No. 4, 402 (1977).
Yu. A. Trifonov, L. M. Chailakhyan, and A. L. Byzov, "Investigation of the nature of electrical responses of horizontal cells of the fish retina," Neirofiziologiya,3, No. 1, 89 (1971).
T. M. Shura-Bura, "Modeling of response of the horizontal cell layer to nonhomogeneous illumination," Biofizika,21, No. 3, 566 (1976).
T. M. Shura-Bura and Yu. A. Trifonov, "Investigation of electrical properties of the retinal horizontal cell syncytium by the method of uniform polarization," Biofizika,25, No. 1, 159 (1980).
A. L. Byzov, Yu. A. Trifonov, L. M. Chailakhyan (Chailahian), and K. V. Golubtsov (Glubtzov), "Amplification of graded potentials in horizontal cells of the retina," Vision Res.,17, No. 2, 265 (1977).
G. G. J. Deffner, "The dialyzable free organic constituents of squid blood: a comparison with nerve and axoplasm." Biochem. Biophys. Act.47, No. 3, 378–388 (1961).
A. L. Hodgkin and A. F. Huxley, "Current carried by sodium and potassium ions through the membrane of the giant axon ofLoligo," J. Physiol.,116, 3, 449–472 (1952).
C. J. Karwoski and L. M. Proenza, "Neurons, potassium, and glia in proximal retina ofNecturus," J. Gen. Physiol.,75, No. 2, 141–162 (1980).
R. D. Keynes and P. R. Lewis, "The sodium and potassium content of cephalopod nerve fibres," J. Physiol.,114, No. 1, 151–182 (1951).
R. F. Miller and R. F. Dacheux, "Synaptic organization and ionic basis of on- and off-channels in the mudpuppy retina. I. Intracellular analysis of chloride sensitive electrogenic properties of receptors, horizontal cells and amacrine cells," J. Gen. Physiol.,67, No. 6, 639–659 (1976).
R. F. Miller and J. E. Dowling, "Intracellular responses of the Muller (glial) cells of mudpuppy retina: Their relation to b-wave of the electroretinogram," J. Neurophysiol.,33, No. 3, 323–241 (1970).
S. Mori, W. H. Miller, and T. Tomita, "Microelectrode study of spreading depression (SD) in frog retina. Part 2. Muller cell activity and [K+] during SD," Jpn. J. Physiol.,26, No. 2, 219–233 (1976).
B. Oaklev, "II. Potassium and the photoreceptor-dependent pigment epithelial hyperpolarization," J. Gen. Physiol.,70, No. 3, 405–425 (1977).
A. Takeuchi and N. Takeuchi, "On the permeability of the end-plate membrane during the action of transmitter," J. Physiol.,154, No. 1, 52–57 (1960).
Yu. A. Trifonov, A. L. Byzov, L. M. Chailahian, "Electrical properties of subsynaptic and nonsynaptic membranes of horizontal cells in fish retina," Vision Res.,14, No. 3, 229–241 (1974).
G. Waloga and W. L. Pak, "Ionic mechanism for the generation of horizontal cell potentials in isolated axolotl retina," J. Gen. Physiol.,71, 1, 69–92 (1978).
Additional information
Institute for Problems in Information Transmission, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 3–10, January–February, 1982.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chailakhyan, L.M., Byzov, A.L. & Trifonov, Y.A. Ion exchange in the horizontal cells of the retina. Neurophysiology 14, 1–6 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01058812
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01058812