Characterization of structure and function of the mouse retina using pattern electroretinography, pupil light reflex, and optical coherence tomography.
OBJECTIVE
To perform in vivo analysis of retinal functional and structural parameters in healthy mouse eyes.


METHODS
Adult C57BL/6 male mice (n = 37).


METHODS
Retinal function was evaluated using pattern electroretinography (pERG) and the chromatic pupil light reflex (cPLR). Structural properties of the retina and nerve fiber layer (NFL) were evaluated using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).


RESULTS
The average pERG amplitudes were found to be 11.2 ± 0.7 μV (P50-N95, mean ± SEM), with an implicit time for P50-N95 interval of 90.4 ± 5.4 ms. Total retinal thickness was 229.5 ± 1.7 μm (mean ± SEM) in the area centralis region. The thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (mean ± SEM) using a circular peripapillary retinal scan centered on the optic nerve was 46.7 ± 0.9 μm (temporal), 46.1 ± 0.9 μm (superior), 45.8 ± 0.9 μm (nasal), and 48.4 ± 1 μm (inferior). The baseline pupil diameter was 2.1 ± 0.05 mm in darkness, and 1.1 ± 0.05 and 0.56 ± 0.03 mm after stimulation with red (630 nm, luminance 200 kcd/m(2)) or blue (480 nm, luminance 200 kcd/m(2)) light illumination, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Pattern electroretinography, cPLR and SD-OCT analysis are reproducible techniques, which can provide important information about retinal and optic nerve function and structure in mice.
Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Prevention and Treatment of Vision Loss, Iowa City, IA 52246-2209, USA.
Kabhilan
K
Mohan
Matthew M
MM
Harper
Helga
H
Kecova
Eun-Ah
EA
Ye
Tatjana
T
Lazic
Donald S
DS
Sakaguchi
Randy H
RH
Kardon
Sinisa D
SD
Grozdanic
D000818:Animals; D004596:Electroretinography; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D012025:Reflex, Pupillary / Q000502:physiology*; D012160:Retina / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*