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Published in: Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 11/2008

01-11-2008 | Basic Science

Comparison of visual function in pigmented and albino rats by electroretinography and visual evoked potentials

Authors: Peter Heiduschka, Ulrich Schraermeyer

Published in: Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology | Issue 11/2008

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Abstract

Purpose

To check differences in visual function between Wistar (albino) and Long-Evans (pigmented) rats.

Methods

The animals were born in our facilities and reared under identical light conditions avoiding bright light. Visual electrophysiology was performed at the ages of 1.5, 4, 7 and 10 months (electroretinography, ERG) and at 1.5 and 7 months (visual evoked potentials, VEP).

Results

ERG measurements showed that: 1) The amplitudes of both scotopic and photopic b-waves were markedly larger in Long-Evans rats than in Wistar rats, and also the amplitudes of scotopic oscillatory potentials and photopic 30 Hz Flicker amplitudes, 2) scotopic a-wave amplitudes were larger in Wistar rats at low light intensities, whereas they were smaller in bright light, 3) both a-wave and b-wave latencies were shorter in Wistar rats, 4) the maximum response RmP3 was larger in Long-Evans rats, 5) the sensitivity parameter S was larger in Wistar rats, and 6) the post-receptoral response of cones was smaller in Wistar rats. In the VEP measurements, amplitudes of both photopic and scotopic visual evoked potentials of Long-Evans rats were only slightly larger than those of Wistar rats.

Conclusions

ERG b-wave amplitudes are markedly decreased in Wistar rats, which requires further investigation. As the b/a and OP/a ratios were also decreased in Wistar rats, it can be suggested that post-receptoral processing, in particular, is impaired in albino animals.
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Metadata
Title
Comparison of visual function in pigmented and albino rats by electroretinography and visual evoked potentials
Authors
Peter Heiduschka
Ulrich Schraermeyer
Publication date
01-11-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology / Issue 11/2008
Print ISSN: 0721-832X
Electronic ISSN: 1435-702X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-008-0895-3

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