In vitro assessment of the differences in retinal ganglion cell responses to intra- and extracellular electrical stimulation

Abstract

Objective. To compare responses of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) to intracellular and extracellular electrical stimulation of varying frequency and amplitude. Approach. In vitro patch clamp was used to record the responses of RGCs to sinusoidal current stimulation of varying frequency and amplitude. The results were simulated using the Neuron software package. Main results. The stimulation frequency yielding the greatest response was higher for extracellular stimulation compared to intracellular stimulation in the same cells (256 Hz versus 64 Hz). In fact, at the high end of the frequency range, where extracellular stimulation was highly efficacious, no responses could be generated using int..