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

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 Rm_P3 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. Presented in part at the 105th congress of the DOG, 20–23 September 2007 in Berlin. The authors have full control of all primary data and agree to allow Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology to review their data upon request.