[Changes in the electroretinogram of Campbell rats with the development of hereditary retinal degeneration].

Abstract

We studied the dependence of amplitudes of a- and b-waves of electroretinogram on intensity of light stimulus in Campbell rats with inherited retinal degeneration. On 20-th-29-th day after birth the amplitude of these waves in Campbell rats is smaller than in Wistar rats. On 30-th-40-th day response significantly decreases, down to complete disappearance of reaction. Weak response appears only to stimulus with the maximal luminance. According to decrease of amplitude of the a- and b-waves of the ERG, Campbell rats are practically blind at 40th day of postnatal life. The analysis of the form of whole ERG curve using the Fourier transformation allowed us to establish, that in Campbell rats on 20-th day after birth the amplitude of the first and second harmonics grows with increasing of stimulus luminance. At 30-th day the amplitude of the second harmonic in Campbell rats is much smaller than in Wistar rats and does not vary with increasing of stimulus luminance.