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Rod and cone components in the compound ERG of the beagle dog

  • Models of Toxicology
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Abstract

In the dog ERG flash-induced activation of the rod receptors can be selectively investigated due to relatively poor photic excitability of the cone component.

The ERG was produced in immobilized dogs using the method of Ganzfeld stimulation with white light flashes of 10 μsec duration. Relatively dim flashes ranging to about 100-fold above ERG threshold lead in the dark-adapted dog to selective activation of the rod receptors. This scotopic rod ERG consists of ERG positivity including ab wave with superimposed oscillations followed by a protracted potential, presumably thec wave.

Light flashes exceeding 100-fold threshold luminance cause simultaneous activation of rod and cone receptors. ERG characteristics include appearance of an early negativity, thea wave, followed byb andc waves of reduced amplitudes.

In the presence of a bright background luminance of 33 ftL bright light flashes cause an ERG resulting from selective cone activation. This photopic cone ERG consists of a smalla wave followed by a smallb wave with oscillatory potentials and by marked subsequent late negativity. With increase in background luminance the late negativity increases in amplitude and occurs progressively earlier.

The characteristics of the dog ERG allow selective assessment of functional changes in rod and cone receptors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIBA-GEIGY Limited, CH-4002, Basle, Switzerland

    U. Schaeppi & F. Liverani

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  1. U. Schaeppi
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  2. F. Liverani
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Schaeppi, U., Liverani, F. Rod and cone components in the compound ERG of the beagle dog. Agents and Actions 9, 294–300 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01966704

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01966704

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