N-ethyl maleimide's effect on the recovery latency of the ERG a-wave after light adaptation.

Abstract

The delay in the onset of the ERG a-wave in the albino rat's eye after light adaptation can be decreased by addition of N-ethyl maleimide into the vitreous as soon as the adapting light is turned off. It is suggested that the sulfhydryl groups of the opsin liberated in the rhodopsin — light energy reaction serves as an inhibitor of the reactions leading to the generation of the a-wave.