The c-wave of the electroretinogram recorded under clinical conditions from rabbits

• Published in: Documenta ophthalmologica Vol. 94; no. 4; pp. 365 - 381
• Main Authors: HAMASAKI, D. I, KORABATHINA, K, PATEL, S. R, MU LIU, LAM, B. L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.01.1997
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Dark Adaptation; Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording; Electrooculography. Electroretinography; Electroretinography - instrumentation; Electroretinography - methods; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Microelectrodes; Photic Stimulation; Pigment Epithelium of Eye - physiology; Rabbits; Retina - physiology; Condition; Electroretinography; Stimulus; Stroboscopy; Rabbit; Exploration; Retina; Lagomorpha; Electrodiagnosis; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Animal; C wave; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0012-4486; 1573-2622
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02580861

To determine whether large and repeatable c-waves can be recorded from rabbits with equipment already in use in clinical electroretinographic laboratories, the Burian-Allen electrode, connected bipolarly or monopolarly, was used to record electroretinograms from pigmented rabbits. The Jet electrode was also used. The c-waves elicited by long-duration (4-second) stimuli were compared to those elicited by stroboscopic stimuli. In addition, the c-waves recorded with direct-coupled amplification were compared to those recorded with condenser-coupled amplification (one-half-amplitude bandpass=0.1 Hz). The b-wave amplitude was not altered by the amplifier coupling or by the two stimulus durations. The largest c-waves were elicited by 4-second-duration stimuli and recorded with direct-coupled amplification. Although the c-wave amplitude was reduced by stroboscopic stimuli and by condenser coupling, large and repeatable c-waves were elicited by stroboscopic stimuli and recorded with condenser-coupled amplification. A comparison of stimulus duration and amplifier coupling showed that the stimulus duration was more important in recording large-amplitude c-waves. Similar results were obtained with the Jet electrode. We conclude that repeatable and large c-waves can be elicited by a stroboscopic stimuli and can be recorded with condenser-coupled amplification with good low-frequency response from rabbits.