The normal c-wave amplitude in rabbits.
We examined some of the problems arising when c-waves are employed in pharmacological experiments with pigmented rabbits. The cyclic variations of the c-wave are smaller in rabbit than in other species. Under our experimental conditions the c-wave amplitudes in some rabbits reached an equilibrium under intermittent stimuli, while in others they increased with time and did not reach a constant level within 3 h. The c-wave amplitude varied with the standing potential during dark adaptation. However interindividual variations made it difficult to standardize the c-waves by this change. Since the c-wave amplitudes of the right and left eyes were similar, the contralateral eye should be used as a control when drugs are administered topically. Interindividual variations of the c-wave amplitude were smaller under dim light. This method is useful in chronic pharmacological experiments when drugs are administered systemically.
D000818:Animals; D003623:Dark Adaptation; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000295:instrumentation; D006706:Homeostasis; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012016:Reference Values