Transient and steady state focal and pattern electroretinogram losses in cats with unilateral optic nerve section

This study shows the ketamine/xylazine anaesthetised cat is a useful model for the effect of unilateral optic nerve section on pattern electroretinograms (PERGs), especially if stimuli extending to previously untested low spatial frequencies and preferably down to the focal ERG (FERG) are included. The transient reversal rate, seldom used in animals, has advantages over steady state recording. Transient PERGs had signs of true spatial tuning, a higher amplitude and signal noise ratio and showed the effect of optic atrophy at low spatial frequencies more rapidly.