Functional deficits resulting from laser-induced damage in the rat retina.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the threshold for electrophysiological detection of functional changes after laser photocoagulation in rats, and to correlate the functional damage with retinal morphology.


METHODS
Argon-laser lesions, covering a quarter or half of the retina, were produced in the right eyes of 25 rats. Eyes were evaluated by flash electroretinography (ERG) and histologically at 3, 21, and 60 days after lasering.


RESULTS
Lasering of half the retina, but not of a quarter, produced a significant decrease in signals at all time points. Some functional recovery was evident 60 days after injury, and was consistent with concurrent morphological healing.


CONCLUSIONS
In rats, lasering of half the retina, but not a quarter, leads to significant deficits in outer retinal functions over a 2-month period. Thereafter some recovery occurs, presumably as a result of migration of photoreceptors from undamaged areas and their retinal remodeling.
Ben-Shlomo
Gil
G
Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 76100 Rehovot, Israel.
Belokopytov
Mark
M
Rosner
Mordechai
M
Dubinsky
Galina
G
Belkin
Michael
M
Epstein
Yoram
Y
Ofri
Ron
R
D000818:Animals; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012160:Retina / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology