Intracellular Potential Measurements from the Ciliary Processes of the Rabbit Eye in vivo and in vitro

Abstract

AbstractThe ciliary processes in the rabbit's eye were explored by micro‐electrodes. On penetrating the epithelial layers with the electrode two well defined levels of potential difference were measured between the penetrating electrode and the external reference electrode. In experiments conducted in vitro the first potential step was about – 30 mV and is suggested to appear when the electrode penetrated the unpigmented cell layer. The second step is suggested to appear when the electrode penetrated the pigmented cell layer. The measured potential difference between the electrodes was – 60 mV during this step. At further penetration it was found that the stroma was nearly equi‐potential with the external fluid. These potential differences disappeared when the preparation was kept in a potassium free solution and when it was poisoned by cyanide.A small number of successful experiments in vivo confirmed the findings made in vitro.