title: Electrical stimulation with a needle-type electrode inserted into the optic nerve in rabbit eyes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether electrical stimulation of the optic nerve can elicit an electrical evoked potential (EEP) in rabbits and to determine whether such stimulation is a useful approach for the placement of a visual prosthesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two needle-type electrodes were inserted into the optic nerve using a transvitreal approach. For electrical stimulation, monophasic and biphasic pulses were used. By stimulating the optic nerve, the EEP was elicited. After evaluation of the EEP, a histological study was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When electrical stimulation was applied, the EEP could be recorded. The threshold with monophasic and biphasic stimulation was 10 +/- 0 microA and 20 +/- 8.2 microA, respectively. Histological examination revealed no major complications, such as bleeding or degeneration, which might have resulted from the insertion of electrodes or the electrical stimulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electrical stimulation of the optic nerve can elicit an EEP, suggesting that this approach may be useful for a visual prosthesis system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan. sakaguh@ophthal.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujikado
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osanai
authors.forename: Xiaoyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakauchi
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikuno
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamei
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohji
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000009:adverse effects; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D009339:Needles; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology