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[Effect of sildenafil citrate on the cortical visual responses]
F González1, M S Justo, M A Bermúdez
1Departamento de Fisiología (Laboratorios "Ramón Domínguez"), Facultad de Medicina y Unidad de Retina Médica, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, España. ispaco@usc.es
Objective:
To study the possible effect of oral sildenafil citrate on the response of cortical visual cells to visual stimulation.
Method:
Multiunit activity was recorded from cortical area V2 of one behaving monkey. Spatio-temporal receptive field maps were obtained by using a reverse cross correlation technique and white noise visual stimulation before and after oral administration of sildenafil citrate.
Results:
The receptive field maps showed a reduction in response latency after administration of sildenafil citrate.
Conclusions:
Since sildenafil citrate is an inhibitor of retinal phosphodiesterase-6, an enhancement on light sensitivity in the photoreceptors is proposed as the cause of the observed reduction in response latency (Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol 2002; 77: 241-246).