title: Age-related retinal function changes in albino and pigmented rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of old age (3 vs. 18 months) on the retinal function of albino (Sprague-Dawley [SD]) and pigmented (Long-Evans [LE]) rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electroretinograms (ERG) were recorded in both albino (SD; 3 months old n = 16, 18 months old n = 16) and pigmented (LE; 3 months n = 16, 18 months n = 5) rats. Data are analyzed for photoreceptor, ON-bipolar, and retinal ganglion cell (RCG) amplitudes as well as photoreceptor and ON-bipolar cell sensitivities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the pigmented strain, senescence results in decreased photoreceptor output, but ON-bipolar and retinal ganglion cell amplitudes were preserved, due to a relative increase in ON-bipolar cell sensitivity. In the albino rats, although ageing decreased both photoreceptor and ON-bipolar cell amplitudes, increased photoreceptor sensitivity produced a relative sparing of retinal ganglion cell amplitude.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both strains show evidence of retinal plasticity with senescence, albeit at different retinal levels. The exact mechanisms underlying sensitivity changes require further investigation. Nevertheless, given the findings of previous human studies, pigmented rats appear to be a more appropriate model for human ageing. Future work using animals to study the effect of ageing need careful consideration in strain selection.
authors: Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: Charng
authors: Christine T O
authors: CT
authors: Nguyen
authors: Bang V
authors: BV
authors: Bui
authors: Algis J
authors: AJ
authors: Vingrys
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D000417:Albinism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D004596:Electroretinography; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D055254:Night Vision / Q000502:physiology; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D051245:Retinal Bipolar Cells / Q000502:physiology; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity