ACTIONS OF DRUGS ON SINGLE NEURONS IN CATS RETINA

The effect of intraarterially and intravenously injected drugs on spontaneous and light-driven activity was investigated in 300 single retinal units. Neurons were excited by strychnine, l-glutamate, noradrenaline, d-amphetamine, acetylcholine and eserine. Strychnine did not abolish light-induced inhibition. Depression of activity was observed after gaba, serotonine, ergometrine, d-amphetamine, noradrenaline and acetylcholine. Cholinolytic and adrenolytic substances blocked the effect of injected acetylcholine resp. noradrenaline and d-phetamine, but did not influence normal spontanous or light-driven activity. Reserpine had no effect on light-inducted inhibitory and excitatory reactions. It is therefore concluded, that neither acetylcholine nor noradrenaline are the main and only transmitters of retinal excitation or inhibition. © 1968.