Selective reduction of oscillatory potentials and pattern electroretinograms after retinal ganglion cell damage by disease in humans or by kainic acid toxicity in cats.

We recorded pattern electroretinograms, scotopic threshold responses, oscillatory potentials and ganzfeld flash electroretinograms in patients with glaucoma or other optic nerve diseases and in cats with inner retinal damage caused by intravitreal injections of kainic acid. In both studies, the scotopic b-wave and the scotopic threshold responses were normal but the oscillatory potentials and pattern electroretinograms were not. The photopic b-wave was also often reduced in patients with scotopic oscillatory potential reduction, and the reduction was proportionate to the oscillatory potential change. Oscillatory potentials were as frequently reduced as pattern electroretinograms in both patient groups, and in the few cases where only one response was reduced, there was no bias toward either measure. In cats, the effects of intravitreal injection of various doses of kainic acid on the retina were evaluated electrophysiologically, and structural damage was assessed histologically. After 25 nmol of kainic acid, the pattern electroretinograms and oscillatory potentials were reduced but neither the b-waves nor the scotopic threshold responses, were affected. Histologic studies of retinas after this dose showed swollen dendrites that were restricted to the outer part (off-sublamina) of the inner plexiform layer. Serial semithin sections indicated that most, if not all, of the swelling was confined to dendrites of large ganglion cells. Our results indicate that the size and sensitivity of the oscillatory potential response may have a role in the diagnosis and management of early glaucoma and optic nerve disease, and that the photopic electroretinogram may give similar information.