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Multifocal electroretinogram for functional evaluation of retinal injury following ischemia–reperfusion in pigs

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology volume 248, pages 627–634 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) has the power to discriminate between localized functional losses and overall retinal changes when evaluating retinal injury. So far, full-field ERG has been the gold standard for examining retinal ischemia and the effects of different neuroprotectants in experimental conditions. The aim of the present study was to establish mfERG, with simultaneous fundus monitoring, for analyzing the localized functional response in the retina after ischemia–reperfusion in the porcine eye.

Methods

70 kg pigs underwent pressure-induced retinal ischemia (1 hour) followed by reperfusion. mfERG recordings were obtained before and after ischemia, followed by 1 and 5 hours of reperfusion. Individual components of the summed mfERG responses were correlated to ischemia and the time of reperfusion.

Results

The visual streak area had significantly higher amplitudes than the optic nerve head and the area in between, suggesting that the mfERG monitors localized functional retinal responses. The mfERG recordings were altered following ischemia–reperfusion. In one group of animals, there was a complete flattening of the mfERG waveforms, indicating complete ischemic injury. In the other group of animals, ischemia–reperfusion altered the mfERG such that the implicit time was increased (20.82 ± 0.18 before ischemia and 21.57 ± 0.21 after ischemia and 1 hour of reperfusion, in the visual streak area, p < 0.05) and the amplitude was decreased (13.16 ± 2.3 before ischemia and 11.47 ± 0.88 after ischemia and 1 hour of reperfusion, in the visual streak area, p < 0.001), suggesting partial ischemic injury.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the porcine model of pressure-induced retinal ischemia–reperfusion results in mfERG changes, typical for retinal ischemia. mfERG may be a useful tool for evaluating and monitoring localized cone dysfunction after an ischemic injury.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by the Swedish Medical Research Council, Lund University Faculty of Medicine, the Swedish Government Grant for Clinical Research, the Lund University Hospital Research Grants, the Swedish Medical Association, the Royal Physiographic Society in Lund, the Åke Wiberg Foundation, the Anders Otto Swärd Foundation/Ulrika Eklund Foundation, the Magn Bergvall Foundation, the Crafoord Foundation, the Anna-Lisa and Sven-Erik Nilsson Foundation, the Jeanssons Foundation, Kronprinsessan Margaretas Arbetsnämnd för synskadade, Synskadade i Malmöhus län, Anna och Edvin Berger’s Foundation, the Lars Hiertas Minne Foundation and the Märtha Lundqvist’s Foundation.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    Håkan Morén, Bodil Gesslein & Sten Andreasson

  2. Retinal Vascular Research, Lund University, BMC A13, 221 84, Lund, Sweden

    Malin Malmsjö

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  1. Håkan Morén
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  2. Bodil Gesslein
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  4. Malin Malmsjö
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Correspondence to Malin Malmsjö.

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Morén, H., Gesslein, B., Andreasson, S. et al. Multifocal electroretinogram for functional evaluation of retinal injury following ischemia–reperfusion in pigs. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 248, 627–634 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-009-1237-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-009-1237-9

Keywords

  • mfERG
  • Retinal ischemia
  • Animal model