Development of postreceptoral function in pigmented and albino guinea pigs

Abstract

Retinal neurons are generated in overlapping growth spurts with ganglion cell and cone populations peaking sooner than rod and bipolar cell numbers. As such the functional development of the inner and outer retinal components and elements within these strata (rods vs. cones) may differ. We considered the postnatal development of the postreceptoral components of the ERG (P2, oscillatory potentials) in the guinea pig. ERGs were also evaluated across albino and pigmented strains in order to consider the role that pigmentation has for functional development. Electroretinograms were collected on postnatal days PDI to PD60 (n = 4-7 per time point). The postreceptoral P2 amplitude and implicit time..