Horizontal cells contribute to the receptive field surround of ganglion cells in the rabbit retina.

The influence of horizontal cells on ganglion cells in the rabbit retina was examined by injecting current intracellularly into horizontal cells while simultaneously monitoring the extracellular spike activity of nearby single-unit ganglion cells. Hyperpolarizing current injected into horizontal cells decreased the firing rate of on-center brisk ganglion cells and increased the firing rate of off-center brisk ganglion cells. Depolarizing current produced opposite effects on on-center and off-center brisk ganglion cells. These findings are consistent with the view that horizontal cells in the rabbit contribute to the antagonistic surround excitation of brisk ganglion cells.