Postnatal development of flash visual evoked potentials in the jaundiced Gunn rat

In this study, the postnatal development of flash visual evoked potential (VEP) has been monitored in the jaundiced (jj) Gunn rat model of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia to determine whether this evoked response is affected by bilirubin-induced neurotoxicity. VEP could first be recorded at 16 d of age. The jj rats exhibited prolonged wave latencies and lower wave amplitudes during the 3rd wk of postnatal life, when compared with their nonjaundiced littermates. There was no correlation at 21 d of age between VEP parameters and either bilirubin levels or body weight. About one third of the jj animals died between 21 and 28 d of age. The average VEP wave latencies at 21 d of age of the rats who were to die was prolonged compared with those of rats who survived till at least 28 d of age. Thus, the latency of VEP waves at the age of 21 d appears to be related to the further outcome of jj Gunn rats. Although wave amplitudes were lower in jj as compared with nonjaundiced 21-d-old animals, there were no amplitude differences between the jj rats who would die and those who would survive during the 4th wk of life. These findings may contribute to the understanding of the pathogenesis of bilirubin encephalopathy in the neonatal period.