Alterations of the cat's electroretinogram induced by the lesioning of the indoleamine-accumulating amacrine cells.

The neurotoxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) was used to destroy the indoleamine-accumulating amacrine cells located in the cat's retina. With 100 micrograms of 5,7-DHT, the alterations in the electroretinogram (ERG) were present in all of the treated eyes and the morphological changes were confined to some of the processes in the inner plexiform layer. The ERGs recorded from treated eyes consisted of negative waves at low intensities and depressed b wave amplitude at higher intensities. The duration of the b wave was not altered but the oscillatory potentials were strongly depressed. The changes were probably permanent. The differences in the ERG changes in cats and rabbits were suggested to arise from the differences in signal processing in the inner retina of rabbits and cats.