The electroretinogram (ERG) of a diurnal cone-rich laboratory rodent, the Nile grass rat (Arvicanthis niloticus)

Vision Res. 2008 Dec;48(27):2723-31. doi: 10.1016/j.visres.2008.09.004. Epub 2008 Oct 19.

Abstract

The most widespread models to study blindness, rats and mice, have retinas containing less than 3% cones. The diurnal rodent Arvicanthis niloticus retina has around 35% cones. Using ERG recordings, we studied retina function in this species. Several features differed from that reported in rats and mice: (a) fivefold larger photopic a-wave amplitudes; (b) photopic hill effect in Nile grass rats only; and (c) flicker amplitude plateau between 5 to 35 Hz with fusion beyond 60 Hz in Nile grass rats only. We conclude that A. niloticus might complement rats and mice for studying retinal function and pathologies involving cones.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
  • Dark Adaptation / physiology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Electroretinography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muridae / anatomy & histology
  • Muridae / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / cytology
  • Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / physiology*
  • Sensory Thresholds / physiology
  • Species Specificity
  • Young Adult