Effects of methanol on the retinal function of juvenile rats

We have investigated the effect of methanol exposure on the retinal function of juvenile rats. The electroretinogram (ERG) and oscillatory potentials (OPs) were recorded prior to and up to 72 h after the administration of methanol. Data were compared to a control group which was only exposed to physiological saline. Our findings can be summarized as follows: methanol generally reduced the amplitude of all retinal potentials, and in some cases, to baseline levels. The ERG b-wave was affected earlier and more prominently than the a-wave. All measured OPs (2-4) were decreased but OP2 was less affected, suggesting that the cone pathway may be less sensitive to methanol than the rod-mediated pathway. These data indicate that juvenile rats (21 days old, i.e. with an immature synaptic development) present a sensitivity to methanol comparable to that observed in adult animals.