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Retinal and cortical visual acuity in a common inbred albino mouse
Michelle Braha1, Vittorio Porciatti1, Tsung-Han Chou1
1Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America.
Plos One
|May 28, 2021
Summary
Albino BALB/c mice exhibit significantly lower visual acuity than pigmented C57BL/6J mice, with deficits primarily at the retinal level. Electrophysiological methods reliably assess this reduced visual capability in albino strains.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Animal Models
Background:
- Albino mice are common research models, yet their visual capabilities are poorly understood.
- Visually guided behavioral tests are frequently used, necessitating knowledge of visual acuity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the visual acuity of albino (BALB/c) and pigmented (C57BL/6J) mice.
- To objectively assess retinal and cortical visual function using electrophysiological and behavioral methods.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput pattern electroretinogram (PERG) for retinal acuity.
- Pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) for cortical acuity.
- Optomotor response (OMR) for behavioral visual assessment.
Main Results:
- Pigmented C57BL/6J mice showed high acuity (0.5-0.6 cycles/degree) across all tested methods.
- Albino BALB/c mice had significantly lower PERG and PVEP acuities (0.1-0.2 cycles/degree).
- BALB/c mice were unresponsive to OMR, indicating a severe visual impairment.
Conclusions:
- Electrophysiological methods (PERG, PVEP) reliably measure visual acuity in albino mice.
- Albino BALB/c mice possess substantially reduced visual acuity compared to pigmented mice.
- The primary deficit in albino mouse visual acuity is located at the retinal level.
