Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To characterize ERG components generated by non-neuronal tissues of the mouse eye. Methods: After overnight dark adaptation, adult mice (C57BL/6J and BALBc/ByJ) were sedated with ketamine/xylazine and placed on a heating pad. Two Ag/AgCl electrodes were fashioned with capillary tubes filled with Hanks BSS; one was placed in contact with the test eye and the other contacted the fellow eye, which was shielded from light stimulation delivered to the test eye. The dc-ERG signal was amplified (dc-100 Hz), digitized (20 Hz) and stored off-line. Full-field stimuli, 7-min in duration, were presented using a Uniblitz shutter. Flash intensity was controlled with neutral density filters. Results: In response to a 7-min flash, the mouse dc-ERG included an initial b-wave which was followed by a c-wave, fast oscillation (FO), light peak (LP), and an off-response at flash offset. As flash intensity increased, the c-wave, FO, and LP first increased and then decreased in amplitude. The polarity of the off-response was negative for low intensity stimuli and positive at the high end of the stimulus range; polarity reversal occurred at a lower intensity for BALBc/ByJ than C57BL/6J mice. Conclusions: The major components of the dc-ERG are readily measured in the mouse. Therefore, this recording technique may be used to examine the effects of genetic manipulation on the electrical activity of the RPE, and how this is altered in retinal degenerative disorders.
Keywords: electroretinography: non-clinical • retinal pigment epithelium • animal model