Abstract
Using light-emitting diodes we stimulated monocularly with light intensities of between 7.5 and 1,800 cd/m2, and recorded simultaneously the Dc-electroretinogram and pupillary movements of the stimulated and the contralateral eye. In some investigations, the visual evoked potential and the activity from the periorbicular muscles were also recorded. Various drugs acting on the autonomous nervous system were topically applied and their effects studied.
In the eye with an untreated pupil, stimulated or contralateral, a corneo positive potential coincident with pupillary constriction was seen (cu-wave), provided the pupil was large before constriction began. However, if the pupil was narrow beforehand, a corneonegative deflection dominated, which was also coincident with pupillary constriction (mu-wave). Parasympathicolytics or -mimetics abolished both the cu and mu-wave.
We conclude that the cu-wave is related to depolarization of the sphincter pupillae during constriction, whereas the mu-wave might be related to a modification of the potential distribution between the pigment epithelium and the tissue surrounding the eye in the case where the pupil is constricted beyond a critical point.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alfieri R, Sole P (1964) Electrorétinogramme chez l'Homme: Electrobiogénèse de l'onde b− de Monnier. CR (Paris) 158:1513–1516
Bütikofer R, Aubert R (1978) Electronics of contact lens pupillography. Med Biol Eng Comput 16:39–44
Dodt E (1951) Beiträge zur Elektrophysiologie des Auges: Über die sekundäre Erhebung im Aktionspotential des menschlichen Auges bei Belichtung. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 151: 672–692
Knave B, Nilsson SEG, Lunt T (1973) The human ERG: d.c. recordings at low and conventional stimulus intensities. Descritpion of a new method for clinical use. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 51: 716–726
Molfetta de V, Spinelli D, Alfonso GF (1967) Recherches sur les potentiels électriques oculaires obtenus par stimulation lumineuse de l'oeil contralatéral. Ophthalmologica 154:354–360
Monnier M (1949) L'électro-rétinogramme de l'homme. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 1:87–108
Müller-Limmroth HW (1954) Elektrophysiologische Untersuchungen zum Nachweis einer biretinalen Association. Z Biol 107:216–240
Niemeyer G (1976) c-Waves and intracellular responses from the pigment epithelium in the cat. Ophthalmologica 85:68–74
Pearlman JT (1962) The c-wave of the human ERG. Arch Ophthalmol 68:823–830
Riggs LA, Johnson EP (1949) Electrical responses of the human retina. J Exp Psychol 39:415–424
Schubert G (1955) Aktionspotentiale des M. cilirais beim Menschen. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 157:116–121
Sigg EB, Sigg TD (1973) The modification of the pupillary light reflex by chlorpromazine, diazepam and phenobarbital. Brain Res 50:77–86
Tamai A (1966) The c-wave in the erg and epg (electropupillogram) of the human eye. Yonago Acta Med 10:153–160
Tamai A (1967) The c-wave in the erg and epg in pigmentary degeneration of the retina. Yonago Acta Med 11:256–261
Täumer R (1976) Experiments concerning the human c-wave. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 198:45–55
Textorius O (1977) The influence of stimulus duration on the human dc registered c-wave. Acta Ophthalmol 55:561–572
Worst JGF, Otter K (1961) Low vacuum diagnostic contact lenses. Am J Ophthalmol 51:410–424
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bracher, D., Bütikofer, R., Garrett, F. et al. Changes in corneal DC-potentials associated with changes in pupillary diameter. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 220, 122–129 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02175944
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02175944