Longer lasting electroretinographic recordings from the isolated and superfused murine retina.
BACKGROUND
Analysis of retinal signaling in mutant mice has become a powerful tool for studying retinal function and disease. Previous attempts to record from isolated mouse retina have been limited to short time periods (about 90 min). It would be desirable to achieve longer-lasting recordings comparable to those that have been performed in larger vertebrates such as rat, rabbit, cat, and bovine (up to 10 h). We performed a series of recordings from isolated mouse retina under a number of different conditions in order to determine the optimal parameters for this species.


METHODS
We used a superfused vertebrate retina assay, for which the murine retina had to be isolated with specific tools. Subsequently, the ERG recordings were optimized for nutrient solution, incubation temperature, and flash light intensity.


RESULTS
To improve the sensitivity and stability of photoreceptor and retinal network responses from the isolated and superfused murine retina, two different nutrient solutions from rat (physiological Ca(2+)) and bovine (reduced Ca(2+) but increased phosphate buffering capacity) were used. Further, a temperature reduced to 27.5 degrees C, a light intensity ten-fold increased (63 mlux), and an increased flow rate (2 ml/min) provided conditions under which the b-wave response was stable for more than 3 hours. Well-known Ca(2+) channel antagonists (isradipine and NiCl(2)) were tested for their potency to antagonize transretinal signalling.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the isolated murine retina can be used as a pharmacological testing system, which provides the additional advantage of selective gene inactivation for better understanding of retinal signalling.
Albanna
Walid
W
Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Strasse 39, Köln, Germany.
Banat
Mohammed
M
Albanna
Nadeen
N
Alnawaiseh
Maged
M
Siapich
Sergej A
SA
Igelmund
Peter
P
Weiergräber
Marco
M
Lüke
Matthias
M
Schneider
Toni
T
D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004596:Electroretinography; D005502:Food; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017275:Isradipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008027:Light; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009532:Nickel / Q000494:pharmacology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D010477:Perfusion; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D012996:Solutions; C022838:nickel chloride; D009532:Nickel; D010100:Oxygen; D017275:Isradipine