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Dopaminergic deficiency and delayed visual evoked potentials in humans
Annals of Neurology
|May 1, 1982
Summary
Levodopa/carbidopa therapy normalized visual evoked potential (VEP) delays in Parkinson's patients. Dopamine-blocking agents caused abnormal VEP latency in schizophrenic patients, suggesting neurotransmitter roles in visual pathway function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Visual evoked potential (VEP) delays can indicate neurological dysfunction.
- The role of dopaminergic pathways in VEP abnormalities is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of dopaminergic modulation on VEP latency in Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia.
- To explore potential mechanisms underlying VEP delays, including synaptic dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Assessed VEP latency in previously untreated Parkinsonian patients before and after levodopa/carbidopa therapy.
- Evaluated VEP latency in previously untreated schizophrenic patients before and after treatment with dopaminergic blocking agents.
Main Results:
- Levodopa/carbidopa normalized VEP delays in 9 out of 14 Parkinsonian patients.
- Dopamine-blocking agents induced abnormal VEP latency in 6 out of 11 schizophrenic patients.
Conclusions:
- Dopaminergic neurotransmission significantly influences VEP latency in humans.
- Synaptic dysfunction, in addition to demyelination, is a potential mechanism for VEP delays.