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Use of extended protocols with nonstandard stimuli to characterize rod and cone contributions to the canine electroretinogram

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Abstract

Purpose

In this study, we assessed several extended electroretinographic protocols using nonstandard stimuli. Our aim was to separate and quantify the contributions of different populations of retinal cells to the overall response, both to assess normal function and characterize dogs with inherited retinal disease.

Methods

We investigated three different protocols for measuring the full-field flash electroretinogram—(1) chromatic dark-adapted red and blue flashes, (2) increasing luminance blue-background, (3) flicker with fixed frequency and increasing luminance, and flicker with increasing frequency at a fixed luminance—to assess rod and cone contributions to electroretinograms recorded in phenotypically normal control dogs and dogs lacking rod function.

Results

Temporal separation of the rod- and cone-driven responses is possible in the fully dark-adapted eye using dim red flashes. A- and b-wave amplitudes decrease at different rates with increasing background luminance in control dogs. Flicker responses elicited with extended flicker protocols are well fit with mathematical models in control dogs. Dogs lacking rod function demonstrated larger amplitude dark-adapted compared to light-adapted flicker responses.

Conclusions

Using extended protocols of the full-field electroretinogram provides additional characterization of the health and function of different populations of cells in the normal retina and enables quantifiable comparison between phenotypically normal dogs and those with retinal disease.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Janice Querubin (Michigan State University Research and Teaching Technical Support) for her help with ERG data collection, anesthesia, and general care for the animals included in this study.

Funding

SMPJ: NIH R24EY027285, Tistou and Charlotte Kerstan Stiftung, Myers-Dunlap Endowment (SMPJ is the Myers-Dunlap Endowed Chair in Canine Health). AK: NIH R01-EY019304 and NIH R01-EY02575.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, 736 Wilson Road, D-208, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Nate Pasmanter, Laurence M. Occelli, András M. Komáromy & Simon M. Petersen-Jones

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  1. Nate Pasmanter
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  2. Laurence M. Occelli
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  3. András M. Komáromy
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Contributions

NP has participated in the conception and design of the manuscript, in all data analysis and interpretation, and in manuscript writing. LMO has participated in the conception and design of the project, in the ERG protocols design, data collection organization and acquisition, and early analysis of data, as well as manuscript editing. AK has participated in part of the manuscript design and in the manuscript editing. SMPJ has participated in the entire project conception and design, in data analysis and interpretation, in the conception and design of the manuscript, in interpretation of data, and in manuscript writing. All have approved the submitted version.

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Correspondence to Simon M. Petersen-Jones.

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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practice at which the studies were conducted.

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Pasmanter, N., Occelli, L.M., Komáromy, A.M. et al. Use of extended protocols with nonstandard stimuli to characterize rod and cone contributions to the canine electroretinogram. Doc Ophthalmol 144, 81–97 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10633-022-09866-y

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