The isolated perfused bovine retina--a sensitive tool for pharmacological research on retinal function.
The electroretinogram (ERG) of the isolated bovine retina serves as a proven criterion of retinal activity. It is used as a sensitive pharmacological tool for testing effects of applied drugs and toxins on photoreceptors, and higher order neurons that contribute to the generation of the b-wave. Following isolation and detachment from the underlying pigment epithelium, part of the retina was mounted into a closed chamber and perfused by a nutrient solution. Flow rate of the nutrient solution and its ingredients, incubation temperature and light intensity were optimised empirically to achieve a maximum b-wave amplitude. Under these conditions, a reproducible, high-resolution ERG can be stably recorded for more than 10 h with sufficient oxygenation found to be a prerequisite for the long-lasting stability. Addition of L(+)glutamate to the nutrient solutions was not anymore beneficial for the b-wave amplitude. A well-known inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation (KCN) and antagonists of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (isradipine, omega-conotoxin-GVIA and NiCl2) were used to prove the validity of the test system. The recording of the ERG from the isolated and perfused bovine retina serves as a valuable physiological model for a neuronal network in which important questions related to the retinal signalling and metabolism can be investigated.
Lüke
Matthias
M
Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Str. 39, D-50931 Köln, Germany.
Weiergräber
Marco
M
Brand
Carl
C
Siapich
Siarhei A
SA
Banat
Mohammed
M
Hescheler
Jürgen
J
Lüke
Christoph
C
Schneider
Toni
T
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle; D003470:Culture Media; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004596:Electroretinography; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D010100:Oxygen / Q000494:pharmacology; D011042:Poisons / Q000494:pharmacology; D011190:Potassium Cyanide / Q000494:pharmacology; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D012996:Solutions
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D003470:Culture Media; D011042:Poisons; D012996:Solutions; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005947:Glucose; D011190:Potassium Cyanide; D010100:Oxygen; D002118:Calcium