An inexpensive device for non-invasive electroretinography in small aquatic vertebrates

Electroretinographic (ERG) method records a sum field potential of the retina in response to light. It mainly arises in the outer retina and is used as a non-invasive measure in both animal experiments and the clinic. Since it is a comprehensive method to assess outer retinal function, it is becoming increasingly useful in genetic studies of vision. Here we present a simple in-house built setup to measure ERGs of aquatic vertebrates. We have used this setup to efficiently and reliably measure intact larvae of zebrafish (Danio rerio), Medaka fish (Oryzias latipes), and Xenopus laevis tadpoles. By slight modification of the setup, we were also able to measure adult zebrafish and Medaka, demonstrating the general versatility of the setup. We picked these organisms since they are increasingly used to study visual function with genetic means. This setup is easily built and will be particularly useful for laboratories setting up ERG measurements as a complement to their genetic studies.