[A simplified method for detection of visual abnormality in the rat in a reproduction study (author's transl)]

A Y-shaped test box was designed for the screening of visual abnormality using negative phototaxis in normal rats. Its availability was determined by examination of 100 animals belonging to non-treated, eyelids-sutured, and eyeballs-enucleated groups. Two kinds of examination were undertaken, the first being observation of the general behavior of the animals in the box for one minute. The second was 4 trials at selection of the dark area of the box given to each animal. In each examination many animals could be tested in a short time. The behavioral pattern of the eyelids-sutured and the eyeballs-enucleated groups was significantly different from that of the non-treated group. The selection rate for darkness by non-treated, eyelids-sutured and enucleated groups in the second examination was 97.5%, 84.5, and 50.0 percent, respectively. Therefore successful estimation could be possible by both procedures and it was possible to numerize the gained value and analyze statistically in the second examination. It was concluded that this simplified method for testing visual function should prove very useful as a behavioral teratology screening test in routine reproduction studies.