Abnormalities of the electroretinogram and visual-evoked potential in vitamin E deficient rats.
Flash electroretinograms, retinal oscillatory and cortical visual-evoked potentials were recorded in 10-month vitamin E deficient rats and in age-matched controls. A significant increase in the latency (P less than 0.0001) and decrease in amplitude (P less than 0.0001) of the electroretinogram a- and b-waves were observed in the vitamin E deficient rats compared with controls. The vitamin E deficient rats also showed a significant delay (P less than 0.002) in early oscillatory potentials. No significant group differences were obtained in the P1 latency or P1-N1 amplitude of the visual-evoked potential; however, the N1 peak was significantly delayed (P = 0.01) in the vitamin E deficient rats. This study shows, for the first time, that the electroretinogram and visual-evoked potential to flash stimulation provide a sensitive index for monitoring the visual effects of vitamin E deficiency in the rat.
Goss-Sampson
M A
MA
Department of Child Health, Institute of Child Health, London, U.K.
Muller
D P
DP
Kriss
A
A
D000818:Animals; D004596:Electroretinography; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000503:physiopathology*