title: Implantation and Recording of Wireless Electroretinogram and Visual Evoked Potential in Conscious Rats.
abstract: The full-field electroretinogram (ERG) and visual evoked potential (VEP) are useful tools to assess retinal and visual pathway integrity in both laboratory and clinical settings. Currently, preclinical ERG and VEP measurements are performed with anesthesia to ensure stable electrode placements. However, the very presence of anesthesia has been shown to contaminate normal physiological responses. To overcome these anesthesia confounds, we develop a novel platform to assay ERG and VEP in conscious rats. Electrodes are surgically implanted sub-conjunctivally on the eye to assay the ERG and epidurally over the visual cortex to measure the VEP. A range of amplitude and sensitivity/timing parameters are assayed for both the ERG and VEP at increasing luminous energies. The ERG and VEP signals are shown to be stable and repeatable for at least 4 weeks post surgical implantation. This ability to record ERG and VEP signals without anesthesia confounds in the preclinical setting should provide superior translation to clinical data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Charng
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne.
authors.forename: Bang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne.
authors.forename: Algis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vingrys
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne.
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ivarsson
authors.affiliation: Pfizer Neusentis.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fish
authors.affiliation: Pfizer Neusentis.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gurrell
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne; christine.nguyen@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nguyen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003243:Consciousness; D004596:Electroretinography; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina; D014793:Visual Cortex