Objective To observe the characteristics of photopic ultraviolet-sensitive cone electroretinograms (UV-cone ERGs) in C57BL/6J mice. Methods This was an experimental study. Ten adult wild-type C57BL/6J mice (10 eyes) were divided into 2 groups of 5 each. Photopic ERGs were elicited after 10 minutes of adaptation under a steady white background illumination of 30 cd·m-2. Mice in the experimental group displayed UV-cone ERGs elicited by UV flashes (λ=363 nm) with stimulus intensities of 0.03 mW·s·m-2, 0.30 mW·s·m-2,1.00 mW·s·m-2 and 3.00 mW·s·m-2. Mice in the control group displayed white flash ERGs (stimulus intensities ranged from 0.02 to 10.00 cd·s·m-2). The maximum responses of the a- and b-wave amplitudes of the 2 groups were compared. An independent samples t test was used for statistical analysis. Results As UV intensity increased to 0.30 mW·s·m-2, the UV-cone ERG could be elicited with an amplitude of 14.8±3.0 μV. At an intensity of 1.00 mW·s·m-2 or 3.00 mW·s·m-2, oscillatory potentials (OPs) with a sizeable O1-3 were recorded on the b-wave. But there were no obvious OPs in the control group. The maximum response showed that the b-wave amplitude of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (t=2.615, P<0.05), although there was no statistically significant difference in a-waves (t=-1.633, P>0.05). Conclusion In adult C57BL/6J mice, the difference between photopic UV and white flash ERGs involve wave shape and maximum amplitude. Our results provide normal reference values for UV-cone ERGs in mice.
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