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Oscillatory potentials as a marker for dopaminergic disease.
M F Marmor1, P Hock, G Schechter
1Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University Medical Center, California.
Documenta Ophthalmologica. Advances in Ophthalmology
|July 1, 1988
Summary
Schizophrenia patients and healthy volunteers showed similar electroretinogram oscillatory potentials. However, a D1 antagonist drug in rabbits suppressed specific oscillatory potentials, suggesting potential electrophysiologic markers for dopaminergic disease.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Electrophysiologic correlates of dopaminergic diseases are sought.
- Oscillatory potentials (OPs) of the electroretinogram (ERG) are investigated.
- Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder with suspected dopaminergic involvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify electrophysiologic markers in the ERG related to dopaminergic dysfunction.
- To compare OPs in schizophrenic patients and healthy controls.
- To investigate the effects of D1 dopamine receptor modulation on ERG in rabbits.
Main Methods:
- Measured ERG oscillatory potentials in 12 male schizophrenic and 9 male normal subjects.
- Administered D1 agonist (SKF 38393) or D1 antagonist (SCH 23390) to rabbits.
- Analyzed ERG responses to single flash and 5-Hz flicker stimuli.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in OPs were found between schizophrenic and normal human subjects.
- D1 agonist administration in rabbits showed minimal ERG changes compared to controls.
- D1 antagonist administration in rabbits led to b-wave diminution and suppression of the second OP, particularly with flicker stimuli.
Conclusions:
- Human ERG oscillatory potentials do not appear to differ between schizophrenic patients and healthy controls.
- Dopamine D1 receptor antagonism in rabbits affects specific ERG oscillatory potentials.
- These findings support further investigation of flicker ERG oscillatory potentials as potential biomarkers for dopaminergic dysfunction.