Visual Receptor Potential: Modification by Injected Current in the Limulus Lateral Eye

The latent period of the light-evoked receptor potential was increased by hyperpolarizing currents injected directly into doubly impaled retinular cells. Indirect hyperpolarization of these cells by injection of hyperpolarizing current into the eccentric cell or other intraommatidial retinular cells either shortened or did not change the latent period. The modification of the latent period may depend upon the direction of current flow across some regions of the membrane system constituting the rhabdomere. The reduction in magnitude of the receptor potential obtained with strong hyperpolarizing currents may also depend upon the direction of current flow. The results support the conclusion that the receptor potential originates in retinular cells within the membrane system of the rhabdomere.