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Diurnal control of rod function in the chicken

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

Frank Schaeffel ,
Baerbel Rohrer ,
Eberhart Zrenner  and
Thomas Lemmer
Frank Schaeffel
Affiliation:
Universitaets-Augenklinik Abt. II, Forschungsstelle fuer Experimentelle Ophthalmologic, Ob dem Himmelreich 9. D-7400 Tuebingen, Germany
Baerbel Rohrer
Affiliation:
Universitaets-Augenklinik Abt. II, Forschungsstelle fuer Experimentelle Ophthalmologic, Ob dem Himmelreich 9. D-7400 Tuebingen, Germany
Eberhart Zrenner
Affiliation:
Universitaets-Augenklinik Abt. II, Forschungsstelle fuer Experimentelle Ophthalmologic, Ob dem Himmelreich 9. D-7400 Tuebingen, Germany
Thomas Lemmer
Affiliation:
Digital Equipment GmbH, D-8000 Muenchen 81, Germany
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Abstract

We studied rod function in the chicken by recording corneal electroretinograms (ERGs). The following experiments were performed to demonstrate rod function during daytime: (1) determining the dark-adaptation function; (2) measuring the spectral sensitivity by a a–b-wave amplitude criterion in response to monochromatic flickering light of different frequencies ranging from 6.5–40.8 Hz (duty cycle 1: I); (3) analyzing the response vs. log stimulus intensity (V–log I) function in order to reveal a possible two phase process; and (4) determining the spectral sensitivity function either in a non-dark adapted state or after dark adaptation of the animals for I and 24 h. None of these experiments demonstrated clear evidence of rod function during daytime. On the other hand, we found rods histologically by light- and electron microscopy. Therefore, we repeated our ERG recordings during the night (between midnight and 3:00 A.M.). Without previous dark adaptation, rod function could be seen immediately in the same experiments described above. The result shows that, in the chicken, rods are turned on endogenously during the night but are scarcely functional during the day.

Keywords

RodsChickenElectroretinogramDiurnal rhythms
Type
Research Articles
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 6 , Issue 6 , June 1991 , pp. 641 - 653
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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