The effects of ouabain on the ERG c-wave

To clarify the effects of ouabain on the ERG c-wave, isolated chick retinas were exposed to different concentrations of ouabain and the results noted. Although the c-wave was abolished at a higher dose of ouabain (10⁻⁴M), its amplitude increased in the presence of ouabain at a concentration of 10⁻⁷M, which was within the range of clinical use of the cardiac glycoside. On the other hand, the standing potential of the retina did not change appreciably until 10⁻⁶M and then decreased gradually at higher concentrations. In the presence of 10⁻⁴M ouabain, the concentration which completely blocked Na-K-ATPase, both the c-wave and the standing potential were almost abolished. These phenomena were more conspicuous when ouabain was applied to the vitreous side rather than the choroidal side. In the presence of 10⁻⁷M ouabain, the light sensitivity of the retina was elevated to 0.5 log unit and the maximum response increased about 30%. This may be a sign of visual complications of ouabain, such as metachromatopsia.