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Journal of Experimental Biology 60,795-805 (1974)
Published by Company of Biologists 1974

Neuronal Modulation of Photoreceptor Activity in the Bee Moth Galleria Mellonella

HAROLD KOOPOWITZ ¹ and GEORGE STONE ¹

¹ Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92664

1. Pairs of light stimuli given at varying intervals causes changes in fast-adaptation characteristics in the bee moth Galleria mellonella. With increasing intervals between the stimuli of up to 1.0 sec there is a decrease in the amplitude of the visual response to the second stimulus.

2. This depression of the response can be affected by a variety of agents which alter synaptic activity. Application of compounds such as Mg²⁺ and nicotinic acid, which block synapses, to the optic ganglion lift depression.

3. K⁺ and CO₂ applied to the optic ganglion also abolish adaptation.

4. Severing neuronal connexions between the retina and ganglion also lifts the depression. De-ganglionation and nicotinic acid also result in increases in absolute amplitude of the response.

5. If Ca²⁺ is added to the Ringer bathing the ganglion, adaptation becomes more marked.

6. These results suggest that the decreases in sensitivity following a brief light stimulus are mediated by synaptic feedback onto the receptor cells.