RETINAL ISCHEMIA-INDUCED BY THE INTRALUMINAL SUTURE METHOD IN RATS

In a model of transient focal cerebral ischemia in male Sprague-Dawley rats, which is induced by the intraluminal suture method, the acute e ffects. on the electrical function of the retina were monitored by rec ording the electrontinogram. The electroretinogram was recorded from h alothane-anesthetized rats before, during and after vascular occlusion through the intraluminal suture method for 180 min. During vascular o cclusion the amplitude of the a-and b-wave were markedly suppressed. U pon reperfusion the a-wave recovered immediately. During reperfusion u p to 48 h the amplitude of the b-wave increased to approximately 50% o f the pre-occlusion value but did not fully recover. Immunohistochemis try of the retinas revealed that the vascular occlusion induced the ex pression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in retinal Muller tells. T he present data suggest that the intraluminal suture method leads to r etinal ischemia. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.