Recovery of the erg in n-3 deficient guinea pigs following dietary repletion

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the existance and nature of a critical period, with respect to electroretinographic (ERG) functional recovery in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) deficient guinea pigs (GP), repleted with n-3 sufficient diet, supplemented with canola oil (CO). Methods: Albino GP's of the Duncan-Hartley strain were raised from weaning on a semi-synthetic premixture, supplemented with either saffiower seed oil (SO, n-3 deficient) or CO (n-3 sufficient). Investigation of a critical period was conducted by repleting SO GP's with CO. Animals were repleted at 6 weeks post-weaning for 5 or 10 weeks, or at 11 weeks post-weaning for 5 weeks. Hence animals were raised to 6, 11 or 16 weeks post-weaning,..