AII amacrine cells are a subtype of amacrine cells present in the retina of mammals. AII amacrine cell serve the critical role of transferring light signals from rod photoreceptors to the retinal ganglion cells (which contain the axons of the optic nerve)
The Classical Rod Pathway described the role of AII amacrine cells in the mammalian retina. This can be summarised as follows:[1][2]
(Once activated, the AII amacrine cell then modulates the cone ON and OFF channels):
The ON- and OFF- cone bipolar cells in turn contact the ON- and OFF-centre retinal ganglion cells, respectively.
Note: A small proportion of rods contact the cone bipolar cells directly.