Enzyme treatment of photoreceptors: effects on the scotopic PIII component of the frog electroretinogram.

Enzymes are often used for preparation of excitable tissues. The effects of papain, trypsin, pronase, collagenase and hyaluronidase on the photoreceptor function were studied by recording of scotopic PIII responses. Each enzyme treatment diminished the amplitudes of the PIII responses with a characteristic time course. The effects of papain, collagenase and hyaluronidase were at least partly reversible, while trypsin and pronase irreversibly reduced the amplitudes of the PIII responses.