Electrophysiological changes of retinal ganglion cells in Royal College of Surgeons rats during retinal degeneration.
Retinitis pigmentosa is one of the main causes of blindness throughout the world and its pathogenesis remains unclear. In this study, patch-clamp recording was performed from ganglion cells in retinal dystrophic Royal College of Surgeons rats and normal rats during development. The three discharge patterns of action potential in ganglion cells of Royal College of Surgeons rats were single, transient, and sustained firing. The main discharge pattern was single firing in P1-2W, then transient and sustained firing. However, during later stages of retinal degeneration, action potential was reduced in amplitude and frequency, and was even lost in Royal College of Surgeons rats. These findings differed dramatically from those of rats without retinal degeneration, suggesting there are functional ganglion cells in Royal College of Surgeons rats early, but lose part function during retinal degeneration, even though morphological differences are not apparent. Understanding the changes of electrophysiological characteristics during retinal degeneration in detail may help explore the optimal time course for treating retinitis pigmentosa.
Chen
Zhong S
ZS
Southwest Eye Hospital, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing 400038, China 2NEI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4066, USA.
Yin
Zheng Q
ZQ
Chen
Shan
S
Wang
Shi J
SJ
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology