Functional loss in the magnocellular and parvocellular pathways in patients with optic neuritis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate contrast threshold and contrast gain in patients with optic neuritis under conditions designed to favor mediation by either the inferred magnocellular (MC) or parvocellular (PC) pathway.


METHODS
Achromatic and chromatic contrast discrimination was measured in 11 patients with unilateral or bilateral optic neuritis and in 18 age-matched controls with normal vision, using achromatic steady- and pulsed-pedestal paradigms to bias performance toward the MC or PC pathway, respectively. In addition, L-M chromatic discrimination at equiluminance was evaluated using the steady-pedestal paradigm. A physiologically plausible model could describe the data with parameters accounting for contrast gain and contrast sensitivity in the inferred MC or PC pathway. The fitted parameters from the eye affected by optic neuritis were compared with those from the normal eye using generalized estimation equation (GEE) models that can account for within-subject correlations.


RESULTS
Compared with normal eyes, the affected eyes had significantly higher saturation parameters when measured with both the achromatic pulsed-pedestal paradigm (GEE: β [SE] = 0.35 [0.06]; P < 0.001) and the chromatic discrimination paradigm (β [SE] = 0.18 [0.08]; P = 0.015), suggesting that contrast gain in the inferred PC pathway is reduced; the affected eyes also had reduced absolute sensitivity in the inferred MC pathway measured with the achromatic steady-pedestal paradigm (β [SE] = 0.12 [0.04]; P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Optic neuritis produced large sensitivity losses mediated by the MC pathway and contrast gain losses in the inferred PC pathway. A clinical framework is presented for interpreting contrast sensitivity and gain loss to chromatic and achromatic stimuli in terms of retinal and postretinogeniculate loci contributions to detection and discrimination.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1905 W.Taylor Street, Room 149, Chicago, IL 60615, USA. dcao98@uic.edu
Dingcai
D
Cao
Andrew J
AJ
Zele
Joel
J
Pokorny
David Y
DY
Lee
Leonard V
LV
Messner
Christopher
C
Diehl
Susan
S
Ksiazek
D000328:Adult; D003117:Color Vision Defects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult