The technique of current source-density analysis was applied to several components of the light-evoked field potentials (electroretinogram) from the retina of the superfused eyecup of rabbit. The depth distributions of the major current sources and sinks were: b-wave—sink at outer plexiform layer, source at inner plexiform layer; M-wave—sink at inner plexiform layer, source at retinal surface; and slow PIII—source near outer plexiform layer, sink at retinal surface. These distributions, along with the sensitivities of these responses to certain pharmacological agents, support earlier studies that Müller cells generate the M-wave and slow PIII, but that depolarizing bipolar cells directly generate the b-wave.

The retinas of adult teleost fish can regenerate neurons following a chemical or mechanical injury. Previous studies have demonstrated that mechanical excision of fish retina induces a hyperplasia within the retinal sheet, including the formation of a proliferative blastema from whence new retinal cells are produced to fill the excision site. The current study was designed to address two issues regarding injury-induced retinal hyperplasia: (1) Retinas of adult zebrafish can regenerate following a surgical excision, but compared to other fish they contain very few proliferative cells: Might retinal injury in adult zebrafish therefore induce minimal, or perhaps no, hyperplasia? (2) The fate of injury-induced, proliferative retinal cells outside surgical excision sites has yet to be determined. Do such cells produce retinal neurons? Evidence is presented that mechanical injury to the adult zebrafish retina induces a dramatic increase in the number of proliferative cells both within and external to the lesion site, and some of these cells apparently migrate within the radial dimension of the retina. Evidence is also presented that injury-induced proliferative cells outside a lesion site can produce retinal neurons—including cone photoreceptors, interplexiform cells, and amacrine cells—that are incorporated into the extant retina. The results suggest that the adult zebrafish retina contains a latent population of cells that is induced to proliferate following retinal injury, and that these cells might represent a novel avenue for pluripotent neurogenesis within the intact adult teleost retina.

In almost every study of the linearity of spatiotemporal summation in simple cells of the cat's visual cortex, there have been systematic mismatches between the experimental observations and the predictions of the linear theory. These mismatches have generally been explained by supposing that the initial spatiotemporal summation stage is strictly linear, but that the following output stage of the simple cell is subject to some contrast-dependent nonlinearity. Two main models of the output nonlinearity have been proposed: the threshold model (e.g. Tolhurst & Dean, 1987) and the contrast-normalization model (e.g. Heeger, 1992a, b). In this paper, the two models are fitted rigorously to a variety of previously published neurophysiological data, in order to determine whether one model is a better explanation of the data. We reexamine data on the interaction between two bar stimuli presented in different parts of the receptive field; on the relationship between the receptive-field map and the inverse Fourier transform of the spatial-frequency tuning curve; on the dependence of response amplitude and phase on the spatial phase of stationary gratings; on the relationships between the responses to moving and modulated gratings; and on the suppressive action of gratings moving in a neuron's nonpreferred direction. In many situations, the predictions of the two models are similar, but the contrast-normalization model usually fits the data slightly better than the threshold model, and it is easier to apply the equations of the normalization model. More importantly, the normalization model is naturally able to account very well for the details and subtlety of the results in experiments where the total contrast energy of the stimuli changes; some of these phenomena are completely beyond the scope of the threshold model. Rigorous application of the models' equations has revealed some situations where neither model fits quite well enough, and we must suppose, therefore, that there are some subtle nonlinearities still to be characterized.

The effect of light adaptation on the period of photocurrent saturation induced by a bright stimulating flash was examined in rod photoreceptors of the larval-stage tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum). Using suction electrodes, photocurrent responses to brief flashes were recorded from single, isolated rods in the presence and absence of steady background illumination. Background light decreased the saturation period (T) measured at fixed flash intensity (fixed If) and in this respect light-adapted the saturating response. Effects of the background on responses to weak (i.e. subsaturating) and bright flashes were compared with changes in a parameter, where ΔT is the decrease in saturation period, and where TR* is the slope of the line that relates T and ln If in a given state of adaptation. Dark- and light-adapted responses to flash intensities and , respectively, exhibited similar absolute peak photocurrent and falling-phase kinetics when and satisfied the relation, , where Ib is the background intensity. It is argued that ψ approximates the relative PDE*/R* gain of transduction, i.e. the relative peak level of activated cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE*) produced by a given, small amount of photoactivated visual pigment (R*). Interpreted on this view, the results imply that light adaptation derives largely from a decrease in PDE*/R* gain, rather than from the stimulation of guanylate cyclase activity. The data are consistent with the possibility that modulation of the lifetime of PDE* underlies the background dependence of ψ.

Simultaneous recording in the cat's retina and lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) was used to find excitatory inputs to LGN cells. These recordings, correlated with measurements of LGN cell receptive-field properties, suggested new functional subdivisions of LGN cells. Distinctions between lagged and nonlagged cells were described before (Mastronarde, 1987a,b; Mastronarde et al., 1991), classification of nonlagged cells is examined here.

The Xs-type relay cells described before (Mastronarde, 1987a,b) each had detectable excitatory input from only one retinal X cell. Cells that received significant input from more than one retinal X cell were of three kinds: relay cells with pure X input (XM); relay cells with mixed X and Y input (X/Y); and cells that could not be antidromically activated from visual cortex (XI). In the series of relay cells, XS-XM-X/Y-Y, cells had progressively larger receptive-field centers, lower spatial resolution, and faster and more Y-like responses to various stimuli. XI cells resembled XM and X/Y cells in some respects but tended to have higher maintained firing rates, more sustained responses, and weaker surround suppression of the center response.

The distinctness of XS, XM, X/Y, XI, and Y from each other was examined with a modification of discriminant analysis that allowed cells to lack measurements for some parameters. Any given pair of categories could be distinguished reliably with only three parameters, although less so for X/Y-Y. In particular, XI cells were distinguishable from relay cells by properties other than the results of cortical stimulation, thus supporting the identity of XI cells as a separate class of X interneurons.

Two discontinuities in the behavior of retinal input suggest that XM cells are a separate class from XS and X/Y cells: (1) LGN X cells received either no detectable input from any of the retinal X cells adjacent to their main input, or an easily detectable amount from several such cells; and (2) cells received either no Y input or a certain minimum amount. No such discontinuity in input underlies the distinction between X/Y and Y cells.

LGN Y cells were also heterogeneous. Those with substantial input from more than one retinal Y cell had larger receptive fields and a greater preference for fast-moving stimuli than did Y cells dominated by a single input. Three Y cells could not be antidromically activated. They tended to differ from Y relay cells and resemble X interneurons in several ways. These shared properties, and the general reliability of cortical stimulation for nonlagged cells, indicate that the cells were Y interneurons.

The strength of excitatory input extrapolated to zero at a separation between LGN and ganglion cell receptive fields equivalent to the radius of a retinal X axonal arbor for X input to XM, XI, and X/Y cells, or to the radius of a Y arbor for Y input to X/Y and Y cells. Thus, a retinal axon appears to be selective in providing input primarily to cells with somata within its arbor, rather than to all cells with overlapping dendrites.

Coverage, the number of receptive-field centers overlapping a single point, was estimated for each kind of LGN cell described here. Each had a coverage of at least 6, comparable to that of retinal Y cells; most kinds had coverages of 15–35. These estimates support the idea that these subdivisions of LGN cells are functionally significant.

XM and X/Y cells fill in the functional gap that is present between retinal X and Y cells and make the distribution of spatial properties more continuous, while multiple-input Y cells broaden the range of spatial properties. One role of LGN circuitry might thus be to provide a substrate for the correspondingly broad and continuous range of spatial-frequency tuning in the visual cortex.

The representation of the visual field in the architectonically defined transition zone between areas 17 and 18 of cat cerebral cortex was assessed by recording the activities and plotting the receptive fields of neurons at 2327 sites along 148 electrode penetrations made in 19 cats. The results show that the transition zone contains a significant representation of the ipsilateral visual hemifield although not all elevations in the visual field represented to the same extent. The shape of the field region represented resembles an hour glass, for the region represented is narrowest on the 0-deg horizontal meridian and increasingly wider at progressively more positive and negative elevations. When receptive-field centers are considered, the extent of the representation reaches to -2.5 deg on the 0-deg horizontal meridian and to 10 or more degrees towards the field periphery. When receptive-field areas are considered, the representation at the 0-deg horizontal meridian extends to -3.6 deg and to beyond 20 deg at other elevations. In contrast, the visual-field representations in flanking areas 17 and 18 are essentially limited to the contralateral hemifield. The presence of a distinct representation of part of the ipsilateral hemifield in the transition zone suggests that the zone may have connections distinctly different from those of the adjacent areas. The observations bear on the problems of understanding the visual pathways in hypopigmented cats and binocular disparity mechanisms about the midline.

The exposure of the developing human embryo to ethanol results in a spectrum of disorders involving multiple organ systems, including the visual system. One common phenotype seen in humans exposed to ethanol in utero is microphthalmia. The objective of this study was to describe the effects of ethanol during retinal neurogenesis in a model organism, the zebrafish, and to pursue the potential mechanisms by which ethanol causes microphthalmia. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 1% or 1.5% ethanol from 24 to 48 h after fertilization, a period during which the retinal neuroepithelium undergoes rapid proliferation and differentiation to form a laminated structure composed of different retinal cell types. Ethanol exposure resulted in significantly reduced eye size immediately following the treatment, and this microphthalmia persisted through larval development. This reduced eye size could not entirely be accounted for by the accompanying general delay in embryonic development. Retinal cell death was only slightly higher in ethanol-exposed embryos, although cell death in the lens was extensive in some of these embryos, and lenses were significantly reduced in size as compared to those of control embryos. The initiation of retinal neurogenesis was not affected, but the subsequent waves of cell differentiation were markedly reduced. Even cells that were likely generated after ethanol exposure—rod and cone photoreceptors and Müller glia—were delayed in their expression of cell-specific markers by at least 24 h. We conclude that ethanol exposure over the time of retinal neurogenesis resulted in persistent microphthalmia due to a combination of an overall developmental delay, lens abnormalities, and reduced retinal cell differentiation.

We have analyzed aspects of photoreceptor topography in wholemounts of human fetal retinae in the age range 13–24 weeks of gestation. Fetal retinae were stained with cresyl violet and the sizes and packing densities of rods and cones analyzed in the conventional manner.

Cones and rods were present within a differentiating region, free of mitotic figures and approximately centered on the putative fovea, represented by the foveal cone mosaic. At 13 weeks of gestation the foveal cone mosaic was clearly differentiated, cone nuclei reaching a packing density of 14,200 per mm; a small number of rods were present in the immediately adjacent region. The packing densities of both rods and cones in these regions gradually increased and the area of the foveal cone mosaic gradually decreased throughout the age range sampled, although individual variations were evident. By 24 weeks of gestation, cone density was approximately 38,000 per mm in the foveal cone mosaic. The maximum rod density observed was 59,200 per mm in the region surrounding the foveal cone mosaic in a specimen of 20–21 weeks of gestation. In all specimens, maximum cone density occurred within the foveal cone mosaic and gradually declined towards the periphery of the differentiating region; a pronounced inverse relationship between cone soma diameter and packing density was also observed. The evidence strongly suggests that both rods and cones migrate centripetally, that is towards the center of the developing fovea, from early in development, possibly from the time that they first differentiate. The implications of these findings for fovealdevelopment are discussed.

There is considerable controversy over the existence of orientation and direction sensitivity in lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) neurons. Claims for the existence of these properties often were based upon data from cells tested well beyond their peak spatial frequencies. The goals of the present study were to examine the degree of orientation and direction sensitivity of LGN cells when tested at their peak spatial and temporal frequencies and to compare the tuning properties of these subcortical neurons with those of visual cortex. For this investigation, we used conventional extracellular recording to study orientation and direction sensitivities of owl monkey LGN cells by stimulating cells with drifting sinusoidal gratings at peak temporal frequencies, peak or higher spatial frequencies, and moderate contrast. A total of 110 LGN cells (32 koniocellular cells, 34 magnocellular cells, and 44 parvocellular cells) with eccentricities ranging from 2.6 deg to 27.5 deg were examined. Using the peak spatial and temporal frequencies for each cell, 41.8% of the LGN cells were found to be sensitive to orientation and 19.1% were direction sensitive. The degree of bias for orientation and direction did not vary with eccentricity or with cell class. Orientation sensitivity did, however, increase, and in some cases orientation preferences changed, at higher spatial frequencies. Increasing spatial frequency had no consistent effect on direction sensitivity. Compared to cortical cell orientation tuning, the prevalence and strength of LGN cell orientation and direction sensitivity are weak. Nevertheless, the high percentage of LGN cells sensitive to orientation even at peak spatial and temporal frequencies reinforces the view that subcortical biases could, in combination with activity-dependent cortical mechanisms and/or cortical inhibitory mechanisms, account for the much narrower orientation and direction tuning seen in visual cortex.

Electroretinogram (ERG) flicker photometry was used to measure the spectral properties of cones in three common ungulates—cattle (Bos taurus), goats (Capra hircus), and sheep (Ovis aries). Two cone mechanisms were identified in each species. The location of peak sensitivity of an S-cone mechanism varied from about 444 to 455 nm for the three species; analogous values for an M/L-cone were tightly clumped at about 552–555 nm. Each of these three species has the requisite photopigment basis for dichromatic color vision and they are, thus, similar to other ungulates examined earlier.

To describe the wide-field ganglion cells, they were injected intracellularly with Neurobiotin using an in vitro preparation of macaque retina and labeled with streptavidin-Cy3. The retinas were then labeled with antibodies to choline acetyltransferase and other markers to indicate the depth of the dendrites within the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and analyzed by confocal microscopy. There were eight different subtypes of narrowly unistratified cells that ramified in each of the 5 strata, S1–5, including narrow thorny, large sparse, large moderate, large dense, large radiate, narrow wavy, large very sparse, and fine very sparse. There were four types of broadly stratified cells with dendritic trees extending from S4 to S2. One type resembled the parvocellular giant cell and another the broad thorny type described previously in primates. Another broadly stratified cell was called multi-tufted based on its distinctive dendritic branching pattern. The fourth type had been described previously, but not named; we called it broad wavy. There was a bistratified type with its major arbor in S5, the same level as the blue cone bipolar cell; it resembled the large, bistratified cell with blue ON-yellow OFF responses described recently. Two wide-field ganglion cell types were classified as diffuse because they had dendrites throughout the IPL. One had many small branches and was named thorny diffuse. The second was named smooth diffuse because it had straighter dendrites that lacked these processes. Dendrites of the large moderate and multi-tufted cells cofasciculated with ON-starburst cell dendrites and were, therefore, candidates to be ON- and ON–OFF direction-selective ganglion cells, respectively. We concluded that there are at least 15 morphoplogical types of wide-field ganglion cells in macaque retinas.

To characterize the temporal and spatial parameters of gamma activity evoked by visual stimuli in areas V1 and V4 of the monkey cortex, we recorded the electrocorticogram (ECoG) with an implanted array of 28 and 31 subdural electrodes placed over the surface of the operculum in two anesthetized monkeys. This intermediate level of recordings should help to bridge the gap between multiunit and scalp recordings. Both averaged and single-trial responses to small flashed stimuli, for which we varied the retinotopic position, the luminance and the color, were analyzed in the time-frequency domain using a wavelet-based decomposition of the signal. Large gamma oscillations (40–55 Hz), not phase locked to stimulus onset, were observed during the whole stimulus presentation, whereas visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were present mainly at stimulus onset and offset. Cortical mapping showed that both activities were restricted in spatial extent and followed the retinotopic organization of area V1 on the operculum, thus strongly suggesting they were generated in the underlying cortex. Oscillatory burst detection in single trials showed that one to two bursts lasting from 100 ms to 500 ms occurred in the first 500 ms following stimulus onset, and that bursts occurring during the subsequent phases of the response had a smaller amplitude and duration. Finally, we showed that gamma activity was stronger with higher luminances and for red than for green, yellow, or white stimuli of same luminance. In one animal we recorded gamma activity over area V4. This was of lower magnitude than the activity recorded over V1 and was delayed by 40 ms with respect to the beginning of gamma activity in V1, in contrast with the VEPs that were delayed by 20 ms only. Both gamma oscillations and early VEP followed the retinotopic organization of V4 over the prelunate gyrus. The results show that gamma oscillations are dependent upon the same parameters as the VEPs (retinotopic position, luminance, and color). However, the differences in the time course of VEPs and gamma activity (transient vs. sustained) suggests that these two responses may reflect different cell populations, different networks, or different firing modes.

Partial lesions of striate cortex were made in newborn and adolescent or young adult macaque monkeys, one newborn squirrel monkey, and adult squirrel and owl monkeys. After survival times ranging from 3 1/2 weeks to 8 years, the retinas were examined for transneuronal retrograde ganglion cell loss and retinal projections to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, and other targets were examined for changes. After lesions in infant macaque monkeys and long postoperative survivals, nearly 80% of the ganglion cells were lost in the altered portions of the retinas. The degeneration appeared to be exclusively of ganglion cells projecting to the parvocellular layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus, and the loss of this class of cell appeared to be complete or nearly complete for the affected portions of the retina. Cases with shorter survivals showed that nine-tenths of the potential loss occurred within 6 months, and about half of the potential loss took place within one month. In cases where lesions were placed in adolescent and young adult macaque monkeys, the loss also was of ganglion cells projecting to the parvocellular layers. However, the rate of cell loss was slower so that little or no cell loss was apparent after six months, and only one-third to three-fourths of the potential loss occurred within 12–14 months. A cell loss of 22% was measured in the altered portions of the retina of a squirrel monkey lesioned as an infant and surviving for 6 months, but no regions of ganglion cell loss were apparent in the retinas of owl and squirrel monkeys lesioned as adults and surviving as long as two or more years.

We conclude that nearly 80% of the ganglion cells project to the parvocellular layers in macaque monkeys, and that the ultimate survival of these ganglion cells depends on the presence of target neurons in the parvocellular layers. Age is important in that the loss of ganglion cells proceeds rapidly in infant macaque monkeys, but slowly in older animals. Infant New World monkeys, judging from one squirrel monkey, are also susceptible to ganglion cell loss, although apparently at a rate comparable to older macaque monkeys. Finally, adult New World monkeys do not appear to be susceptible to ganglion cell loss. These age and species differences in rates of loss and susceptibility to loss challenge a “sustaining collateral” hypothesis proposed earlier (Weller et al., 1979), and suggest alternatives and modifications.

Photocurrents of cones in the retinas of a small fish, Danio aequipinnatus (Cyprinidae) were recorded with suction pipette electrodes. Spectral sensitivity was measured between 277 and 697 nm. Four spectral classes of cone were found, with λmax at 560, 480, 408, and 358 nm. For the latter, we provide the first complete characterization of spectral sensitivity of a vertebrate ultraviolet (UV) photoreceptor. All cones responded with similar kinetics, except for a subset of the 560-nm cones, which were distinctly faster. The a-bands of the three cones absorbing maximally in the visible have the same bandwidth when log sensitivity is plotted versus normalized frequency, and in this respect they are indistinguishable from primate cones (“Mansfield's rule’). An eighth-degree polynomial in λmax/λ based on this combined data set (fish, primate) is presented as a template that is likely to have predictive value in describing cone spectra from other vertebrates. The α−band of the UV cone, however, is somewhat narrower than predicted by this function, is similar to other UV visual pigments, and an eighth-degree polynomial that describes its shape is also presented. These measurements also provide information on the β−band (i.e. cis peak region), difficult to obtain by microspectrophotometry. The β−band of cone pigments is found at longer wavelengths as the α−band shifts toward the red. A secondary rise in cone sensitivity around 280 nm indicates that photons absorbed by aromatic amino acids in the opsin (γ−band) excite the transduction cascade, but the quantum efficiency is not as high as when absorption occurs in the retinal-protein chromophore.

Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to study the distribution of glycine receptor (GlyR) subunits and the GlyR-associated protein gephyrin in the rat retina. Monoclonal antibodies against the α and β subunits of the GlyR and gephyrin showed a strong punctate labeling pattern in the inner plexiform layer. Glycine receptor mRNAs were found in the inner nuclear layer and the ganglion cell layer. The α 1 subunit mRNA is predominantly present in the outer half of the INL and on some but not all ganglion cells. GlyR α2 subunit mRNA is predominantly present in the inner half of the INL and on nearly all cells in the ganglion cell layer. GlyR α3–, GlyR β-, and gephyrin-mRNAs are present in the entire INL and in cells in the ganglion cell layer. The differential expression of glycine receptor subunits indicates a functional diversity of glycine receptors in the retina.

Responses of 71 cells in areas 17 and 18 of the cat visual cortex were recorded extracellularly while stimulating with gratings drifting in each direction across the receptive field at a series of temporal frequencies. Direction selectivity was most prominent at temporal frequencies of 1–2 Hz. In about 20% of the total population, the response in the nonpreferred direction increased at temporal frequencies of around 4 Hz and direction selectivity was diminished or lost. In a few cells the preferred direction reversed.

One consequence of this behavior was a tendency for the preferred direction to have lower optimal temporal frequencies than the nonpreferred direction. Across the population, the preferred direction was tuned almost an octave lower. In spite of this, temporal resolution was similar in the two directions. It appeared that responses in the nonpreferred direction were suppressed at low frequencies, then recovered at higher frequencies.

This phenomenon might reflect the convergence in visual cortex of lagged and nonlagged inputs from the lateral geniculate nucleus. These afferents fire about a quarter-cycle apart (i.e. are in temporal quadrature) at low temporal frequencies, but their phase difference increases to a half-cycle by about 4 Hz. Such timing differences could underlie the prevalence of direction-selective cortical responses at 1 and 2 Hz and the loss of direction selectivity in many cells by 4 or 8 Hz.

We examine the assumptions that the fovea contains equal numbers of inner (invaginating or ON) and outer (flat or OFF) midget bipolar cells and equal numbers of inner and outer diffuse bipolar cells. Based on reconstruction from electron photomicrographs of serial thin sections through the fovea of a macaque monkey, we reject both assumptions. First, every foveal L and M cone is presynaptic to one inner and one outer midget bipolar cell; however, S cones are presynaptic to one outer but no inner midget bipolar cell. Second, we measure the density of all foveal cells in the same patch of fovea, affording accurate cell density ratios. For each foveal cone pedicle, at a density of 26,500 mm−2, there is close to one (0.88) outer diffuse bipolar cell but only 0.40 inner diffuse bipolar cells. This asymmetry may be related to differences in resolution and sensitivity for light increments and decrements. We also find one (1.01) Müller cell, one (1.01) amacrine cell in the inner nuclear layer, and close to one (0.83) horizontal cell for each cone pedicle. In addition, for each S cone, there are two inner S-cone bipolar cells and two small bistratified ganglion cells. In total, there are 3.4 cone bipolar cells per cone but only 2.6 ganglion cells per cone. The latter ratio is enough to accommodate one midget ganglion cell for each midget bipolar cell.

Electroretinogram (ERG) flicker photometry was used to examine the photopigment complements of representatives of four genera of Canid: domestic dog (Canis familiaris), Island gray fox (Urocyon littoralis), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus). These four genera share a common cone pigment complement; each has one cone pigment with peak sensitivity of about 555 nm and a second cone pigment with peak at 430–435 nm. These pigment measurements accord well with the conclusions of an earlier investigation of color vision in the dog, and this fact allows some predictions about color vision in the wild canids. An additional set of measurements place the peak of the dog rod pigment at about 508 nm.

Previous experiments in chickens have shown that dopamine released from the retina may be one of the messengers controlling the growth of the underlying sclera. It is also possible, however, that the apparent relationship between dopamine and myopia is secondary and artifactual. We have done experiments to assess this hypothesis. Using High Pressure Liquid Chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ED), we have asked whether changes in dopamine metabolism are restricted to the local retinal regions in which myopia was locally induced. Furthermore, we have measured the concentrations of biogenic amines separately in different fundal layers (vitreous, retina, choroid, and sclera) to find out how changes induced by “deprivation” (= removal of high spatial frequencies from the retinal image by translucent eye occluders which produce “deprivation myopia”) are transmitted through these layers. Finally, we have repeated the deprivation experiments after intravitreal application of the irreversible dopamine re-uptake blocker reserpine to see how suppression of dopaminergic transmission affects these changes. We found that (1) Alterations in retinal dopamine metabolism were indeed restricted to the retinal areas in which myopia was induced. (2) The retina was the major source of dopamine release with a steep gradient both to the vitreal and choroidal side. Vitreal content was about one-tenth, choroidal content about one-third, and scleral content about one-twentieth of that of the retina. (3) There was a drop by about 40% in vitreal dopamine, DOPAC (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) and HVA (homovanilic acid) concentrations following deprivation which occurred already at a time where little changes could yet be seen in their total retinal contents. (4) Choroidal and scleral dopamine levels were not affected by deprivation, indicating that other messengers must relay the information to the sclera. (5) A single intravitreal injection of reserpine lowered dopamine and HVA levels in retina and vitreous for at least 10 days in a dose-dependent fashion and diminished or suppressed further effects of deprivation on these compounds. DOPAC levels continued to change upon deprivation even after reserpine injection (Fig. 3). Our results suggest that the release rates of dopamine from retinal amacrine cells can be estimated from vitreal dopamine concentrations; furthermore, they are in line with the hypothesis that there is an inverse relationship between dopamine release and axial eye growth rates. Although our experiments do not ultimately prove that dopamine has a functional role in the visual control of eye growth, they are in line with this notion.

Reduction of blood flow to the rat retina was achieved by either clamping both carotid arteries briefly (24 min) or combining clamping of the carotid arteries with permanent occlusion of the vertebral arteries. Analysis of retinas 6 days after operations showed that GFAP immunoreactivity is expressed throughout the retinal Müller cells, although this was variable in retinas from animals where only the carotid arteries were clamped. GFAP immunoreactivity was not associated with retinal Müller cells from control animals and no obvious neuronal damage was observed in retinas from operated animals. These data suggest that Müller-cell GFAP expression may be used as an index to follow possible processes leading to an ischemic insult.