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Updated: Sep 4, 2025
Simultaneous Recording of Electroretinography and Visual Evoked Potentials in Anesthetized Rats
Published on: July 1, 2016
Comparison of the effect of sedation and general anesthesia on pattern and flash visual evoked potentials in normal
Stephanie Chang1, Danielle Zwueste1, Barbara Ambros1
1Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada.
Background:
Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) can provide objective functional assessment of the post-retinal visual pathway. This study compared the effects of sedation (butorphanol and dexmedetomidine) and general anesthesia (propofol and sevoflurane) on pattern and flash VEPs. Dogs (n = 13) underwent sedation or anesthesia and VEPs were obtained from 3 subcutaneous recording electrodes placed on the head (O1, Oz, O2).
Results:
Pattern VEPs could only be recorded under sedation and a maximum of 3 peaks were identified (N75, P100, N135). Flash VEPs could be recorded under both sedation and anesthesia and a maximum of 5 peaks were identified (N1, P1, N2, P2, N3). The latency of the N1 peak and the baseline-N1 amplitude were significantly longer under general anesthesia.
Conclusion:
Visual evoked potentials should be preferentially recorded in dogs sedated with dexmedetomidine and butorphanol, regardless of the stimulus.
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