Transient Responses to Sudden Illumination in Cells of the Eye of Limulus

Responses recorded from visual cells of Limulus (presumably eccentric cells) following abrupt and maintained illumination consist of depolarization with superimposed spikes. Both the depolarization and the frequency of firing are greater at the beginning of the response than later on. Frequency of firing decreases with time also during stimulation with constant currents, but the decay is then less than it is during constant illumination. Early and steady-state responses do not increase in the same proportion following illumination at different intensities. Membrane conductance is higher during the early peak of the response than in steady state. Early and late potential changes appear to tend to the same equilibrium value. The results support the assumptions that: (a) discharge of impulses is the consequence of depolarization of a specialized "pacemaker region" in the axon; (b) depolarization induced by light is the consequence of increase of membrane conductance. The major conductance changes occurring during constant illumination may be due to corresponding changes of the "stimulus" supplied by the photoreceptor or to changes of sensitivity of the eccentric cell's membrane to this stimulus. Some accessory phenomena may be the consequence of regenerative properties of the nerve cell itself.