Characterization of structure and function of the mouse retina using pattern electroretinography, pupil light reflex, and optical coherence tomography.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To perform in vivo analysis of retinal functional and structural parameters in healthy mouse eyes. ANIMAL STUDIED: Adult C57BL/6 male mice (n = 37). PROCEDURES: Retinal function was evaluated using pattern electroretinography (pERG) and the chromatic pupil light reflex (cPLR). Structural properties of the retina and nerve fiber layer (NFL) were evaluated using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). RESULTS: The average pERG amplitudes were found to be 11.2 ± 0.7 μV (P50-N95, mean ± SEM), with an implicit time for P50-N95 interval of 90.4 ± 5.4 ms. Total retinal thickness was 229.5 ± 1.7 μm (mean ± SEM) in the area centralis region. The thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (mean ± SEM) using a circular peripapillary retinal scan centered on the optic nerve was 46.7 ± 0.9 μm (temporal), 46.1 ± 0.9 μm (superior), 45.8 ± 0.9 μm (nasal), and 48.4 ± 1 μm (inferior). The baseline pupil diameter was 2.1 ± 0.05 mm in darkness, and 1.1 ± 0.05 and 0.56 ± 0.03 mm after stimulation with red (630 nm, luminance 200 kcd/m(2)) or blue (480 nm, luminance 200 kcd/m(2)) light illumination, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pattern electroretinography, cPLR and SD-OCT analysis are reproducible techniques, which can provide important information about retinal and optic nerve function and structure in mice.