L-alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine enhances the amplitude of the pattern electroretinogram in rhesus monkeys. A pilot study.

Abstract

The effects of L-alpha-glyceryl-phosphorylcholine (LGPC), a putative acetylcholine precursor, were studied on the pattern electroretinogram (PERG) in two rhesus monkeys. In the time interval 10-30 min after LGPC administration (85 mg/kg i.m.), the amplitude of the PERG increased significantly. In both monkeys the amplitude enhancement was more pronounced for low spatial frequency stimuli (1 cycle/degree) than for medium spatial frequency gratings (5 cycles/degree). This result suggests that besides the general facilitatory properties, LGPC may have specific spatial frequency tuning effects at the level of retinal information processing.