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The effects of dopamine blockade on the human flash electroretinogram

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Abstract

Single-cell electrophysiologic studies have shown that dopamine modulates retinal activity, but its role in human retinal processing is unclear. We investigated the effects of short-term oral administration of dopaminergic receptor blocking agents on the flash electroretinogram in humans. Both chlorpromazine (25 and 50 mg) and fluphenazine (1 and 2 mg) significantly reduced electroretinogram b-wave amplitudes and also selectively reduced the amplitude of the first oscillatory potential. Implicit times were not altered. Metoclopramide (10 and 20 mg) had no effect on any electroretinographic variable. Our study indicates that dopamine receptor blocking agents with both D-1 and D-2 receptor affinities reduce the amplitude of the electroretinogram in humans.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

analysis of variance

VlogI:

voltage versus log intensity

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, 10016, New York, NY, USA

    Karen Holopigian, Larry Clewner, William Seiple & Mark J. Kupersmith

  2. Department of Neurology, New York University Medical Center, New York, USA

    Mark J. Kupersmith

Authors
  1. Karen Holopigian
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  2. Larry Clewner
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  3. William Seiple
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  4. Mark J. Kupersmith
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Holopigian, K., Clewner, L., Seiple, W. et al. The effects of dopamine blockade on the human flash electroretinogram. Doc Ophthalmol 86, 1–10 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01224623

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