Interaction between photoreceptors and pigment epithelium in developing pigeon retina: an electrophysiological and ultrastructural study.

In pigeons as in other vertebrates, the electroretinogram (ERG) first can be recorded simultaneously with the appearance of the photosensitive lamellae in the developing outer segments. At around 4-6 days after the bird has hatched a small negative-positive complex (a-b-wave) appears. Simultaneously, a c-wave can be recorded and the termination of the stimulus is followed by a positive d-wave. The ERG amplitude progressively increases during the first month as the lamellar structures complete their maturation. The c-wave amplitude shows a steady increase in the early post-hatching period which parallels the a-b complex maturation. In newly hatched pigeons the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell consists of a small soma and long villi which extend toward the photoreceptors. During maturation a progressive increase in RPE thickness and number of cytoplasmic elements can be observed.