Is dopamine involved in the generation of the light peak in the intact chicken eye?

Abstract

The implication for dopamine (DA) in the modulation of the standing potential (SP) and the light peak (LP) was tested in intact chickens using an indirect EOG method. After an intravenous or intravitreal injection of DA, a transient, dose-dependent increase in the SP was observed. The LP, recorded after an intravenous injection, was preserved. But after an intravitreal injection, the LP was strongly reduced or even abolished depending on the dose of DA, whereas the photoreceptor response was unchanged. The data supports the hypothesis that the light peak, which is generated by a neural retina-pigment epithelium interaction, could be triggered by dopamine released at light onset from the inner retinal layers.