Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Intracellular recordings from photoreceptors of the squid (Loligo pealii)

  • Published:
Journal of comparative physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Intracellular recordings were made from squid photoreceptors using micropipettes filled with 4 M potassium acetate. Resting potentials were about −55 mV, and light stimuli induced membrane voltage to become more positive (depolarized). For an intense stimulus there was a transient peak depolarization that declined to a plateau; membrane potential exceeded 0 V during the peak depolarization. The magnitude of the light response was decreased either by passing steady depolarizing current through the recording pipette or by bathing the retina in low Na+ sea water. The waveform of the response to an intense stimulus was altered by bathing the retina in low Ca++ sea water or intracellular injection of EGTA; for both of these treatments, the decline from the transient peak depolarization to the plateau was lessened and the responses became more “square”. Squid photoreceptors were found to be very sensitive to hypoxia. These results, taken together, are consistent with the interpretations that (1) the majority of the light-induced current is carried by Na+, and (2) a rise in (Ca++)in is a step in the mechanism underlying the decline from the peak transient depolarization to the plateau.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, R.G., Hagins, W.A.: Ionic composition of squid photoreceptors. Biol. Bull.119, 300–301 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bader, C.R., Baumann, F., Bertrand, D.: Role of intracellular calcium and sodium in light adaptation in the retina of the honey bee drone (Apis mellifera L.). J. gen. Physiol.67, 475–491 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumann, F., Hadjilazaro, B.: A depolarizing aftereffect of intense light in the drone visual receptor. Vision Res.12, 17–31 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumann, F., Mauro, A.: Effect of hypoxia on the change in membrane conductance evoked by illumination in arthropod photoreceptors. Nature New Biol.224, 146–148 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertrand, D., Perrelet, A., Baumann, F.: Influence of anoxia on the membrane potential of retinula and pigment cells in the retina of the drone. Experientia29, 740 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, H.M., Hagiwara, S., Koike, H., Meech, R.M.: Membrane properties of a barnacle examined by the voltage clamp technique. J. Physiol.208, 385–413 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J.E., Blinks, J.R.: Changes in intracellular free calcium concentration during illumination of invertebrate photoreceptors: detection with aequorin. J. gen. Physiol.64, 643–665 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J.E., Lisman, J.E.: An electrogenic sodium pump inLimulus ventral photoreceptor cells. J. gen. Physiol.59, 720–733 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J.E., Lisman, J.E.: Intracellular Ca modulates sensitivity and time scale inLimulus ventral photoreceptors. Nature258, 252–253 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J.E., Mote, M.I.: Ionic dependence of reversal voltage of the light response ofLimulus ventral photoreceptors. J. gen. Physiol.63, 337–350 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, A.I.: An ultrastructural analysis of the photoreceptors of the squid and their synaptic connections I. Photoreceptive and non-synaptic regions of the retina. J. comp. Neurol.147, 351–378 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fulpius, B., Baumann, F.: Effects of sodium, potassium and calcium ions on slow and spike potentials in single photoreceptor cells. J. gen. Physiol.53, 541–561 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagins, W.A.: Electrical signs of information flow in squid photoreceptors. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol.30, 403–418 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagins, W.A.: The visual process: excitatory mechanisms in the primary receptor cells. Ann. Rev. Biophys. Bioeng.1, 131–158 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagins, W.A., Zonana, H.V., Adams, R.G.: Local membrane current in the outer segments of squid photoreceptors. Nature194, 844–846 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Koike, H., Brown, H.M., Hagiwara, S.: Hyperpolarization of a barnacle photoreceptor membrane following illumination. J. gen. Physiol.57, 723–737 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lange, G.D., Hartline, P.H.: Retinal responses in squid and octopus. J. comp. Physiol.93, 19–36 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lisman, J., Brown, J.E.: The effects of intracellular iontophoretic injection of calcium and sodium ions on the light response ofLimulus ventral photoreceptors. J. gen. Physiol.59, 701–719 (1972a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lisman, J., Brown, J.E.: The effects of intracellular Ca2+ on the light response and on light adaptation inLimulus ventral photoreceptors. In: The visual system: neurophysiology, biophysics and their clinical applications (ed. G.B. Arden), pp. 23–33. New York: Plenum Press 1972b

    Google Scholar 

  • Lisman, J., Brown, J.E.: Light-induced changes of sensitivity inLimulus ventral photoreceptors. J. gen. Physiol.66, 473–488 (1975a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lisman, J., Brown, J.E.: Effects of intracellular injection of calcium buffers on light adaptation inLimulus ventral photoreceptors. J. gen. Physiol.66, 489–506 (1975b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Millecchia, R., Mauro, A.: The ventral photoreceptor cells ofLimulus III. A voltage clamp study. J. gen. Physiol.54, 331–351 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Murakami, M., Pak, W.L.: Intracellular recorded early receptor potential of vertebrate photoreceptors. Vision Res.10, 965–975 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinto, L.H., Pak, W.L.: Light-induced changes in photoreceptor membrane resistance and potential in Gecko retinas. I. Preparations treated to reduce lateral interactions. J. gen. Physiol.64, 26–48 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shoukimas, J., Adelman, Jr., W.J., Sege, V.: Cation concentrations in the hemolymph ofLoligo pealei. Biophys. J.18, 231–234 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sperling, L., Lisman, J.E., Godfrey, A.: Light-evoked responses from the ventral parolfactory vesicles ofLoligo pealei. Biol. Bull.145, 456 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Waloga, G., Brown, J.F., Pinto, L.H.: Detection of changes of Cain fromLimulus ventral photoreceptors using arsenazo III. Biol. Bull.149, 449–450 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zonana, H.V.: Fine structure of squid retina. Bull. J. Hopkins Hosp.109, 185–205 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 47907, West Lafayette, Indiana

    L. H. Pinto & J. E. Brown

  2. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, SUNY, 11790, Stony Brook, New York

    L. H. Pinto & J. E. Brown

  3. Marine Biological Laboratory, 02543, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA

    L. H. Pinto & J. E. Brown

Authors
  1. L. H. Pinto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. E. Brown
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

We thank Drs. D. Bertrand, G. Bertrand, W.A. Hagins, and R. Hubbard for helpful discussions and Drs. C. Bader, D. Bertrand and J. Lisman for reading the manuscript. Supported by NIH grants EYO1914, EYO1915, EYO1221 and KO4EY00009.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pinto, L.H., Brown, J.E. Intracellular recordings from photoreceptors of the squid (Loligo pealii). J. Comp. Physiol. 122, 241–250 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00611893

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00611893

Keywords

Search

Navigation