Comparative investigation of retinal responses to brief light stimuli: 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate studies--II. Turtle retina (Emys orbicularis).

1. Electroretinogram (ERG) and responses of single ganglion cells to 75 microseconds light flashes, presented on two different backgrounds, were studied. Additionally, stimulation with long lasting stimuli (ordinarily 5 sec ON-, 15 sec OFF-) was used. 2. 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (APB) at a concentration of 450 microM on average was used to separate OFF- from ON- channels. It is known, that in other species APB selectively blocks the activity of ON- channel only. 3. The existence of APB- sensitive membrane receptors was demonstrated in the turtle retina. As in other species, APB abolished the ERG b-wave and enhanced the d-wave, when long lasting stimulation was used. 4. By means of APB, two components were shown to exist in the ERG positive wave in response to a flash. APB abolished the first component and did not influence or enhanced the second one. 5. By means of APB, one or two components in the impulse activity in response to flash were demonstrated, depending on the type of ganglion cell (ON-, OFF- or ON-OFF). The latency of the first component was 70 msec and the latency of the second one 210 msec on average. APB abolished the first component, and enhanced the second one. 6. The data obtained show that both ON- and OFF- channels take part in the generation of the turtle retinal responses to brief stimuli. 7. Based on the results obtained, some peculiarities of the network organization of the ganglion cells' receptive fields are discussed.