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Color-opponent responses of small and giant bipolar cells in the carp retina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2000

KIYOSHI SHIMBO
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki 216-8511, Japan
JUN-ICHI TOYODA
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki 216-8511, Japan
HIROAKI KONDO
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki 216-8511, Japan
TORU KUJIRAOKA
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki 216-8511, Japan

Abstract

The physiological and morphological properties of color-opponent bipolar cells in the carp retina were studied. Fifty nine OFF-center bipolar cells and 63 ON-center bipolar cells out of about 500 total bipolar cells recorded showed color-opponent responses. The OFF-center color-opponent bipolar cells were classified into three subgroups according to their spectral and spatial responses. Fifty OFF-center color-opponent cells responded with depolarization to a blue light spot and with hyperpolarization to a red spot in the receptive-field center. The polarity of the surround response was opposite to that of center response at each wavelength. Therefore these cells were classified as OFF double-opponent cells (OFF-DO). Eight cells responded with hyperpolarization to a blue and green spot and with depolarization to a red spot. The surround responses of those cells were depolarizing at any wavelength (R+G cell). One responded with hyperpolarization to a blue and red spot and with depolarization to a green spot. The surround response showed a different spectral characteristic from that of the center response. It responded with depolarization to a blue and green annulus and with hyperpolarization to a red annulus (RG+B cell). The ON-center color-opponent bipolar cells were similarly classified into three subgroups. Sixty of ON-center color-opponent cells were the double color-opponent type (ON-DO cell), showing the responses of opposite polarity to the OFF-DO cells. Two cells were classified as RG+ cell, and one cell as R+GB+ cell. Both OFF- and ON-DO cells were identified by their morphology as Cajal's giant bipolar cells, and R+G, RG+, RG+B, and R+GB+ cells as Cajal's small bipolar cells. The analysis of the latency and the ionic mechanisms of their responses suggest that DO cells under light-adapted conditions receive direct inputs from long-wavelength (red) cones, RG cells from middle-wavelength (green) cones, and RGB cells from short-wavelength (blue) cones. Possible mechanisms of the opponent inputs to these bipolar cells are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2000 Cambridge University Press

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