Abstract

TONDERAI-KATSAMUDANGA, Benn  and  PEREZ-LEON, Jorge A.. Molecular basis for interpretation of fulfilled electroretinographic studies. Rev. mex. neurocienc. [online]. 2021, vol.22, n.2, pp.56-66.  Epub Apr 23, 2021. ISSN 2604-6180.  https://doi.org/10.24875/rmn.20000040.

Fulfilled electroretinography (ffERG) represents the phototransduction process and synaptic network in the first nerve impulse of the visual process. Little is known about its interpretations at molecular level. ffERG records potential changes within the retina in the a, b, and c waves coming from different cell types. The a-wave derives from the phototransduction of rods and cones. Depolarization of interneurons is recorded in the b-wave. The origin of the c-wave is controversial. It has been related to the retinal pigmented epithelium, but evidence of its intrinsic electrical activity is lacking. We set the hypothesis that the c-wave measures the activity of the photoreceptor ganglion cells, which results of melanopsin-based phototransduction. The evidence for this comes from experiments inhibiting synaptic transmission from rods and cones. The molecular knowledge is the basis for the interpretation of wave alterations of electroretinographic studies and intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells contribute substantially to the formation of the c-wave.

Keywords : Electroretinography; Molecular; Photoreceptors; Phototransduction; Retina; Photoreceptor ganglion cells.