Visual capacity in albino mice. Are albino mice good for every neuroscience´s experiment?

Abstract

Purpose: To show the visual capacity in two diff erent albino mice (NMRI and CD1). Methods: 66 albino mice from two mice’s strains were analyzed: CD1 and NMRI, obtained about from two diff erent organizations. Full fi eld Electroretinogram was used in the functional analysis. ! e recommendation of the International Society for the Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) was followed. Furthermore, we recorded ERG responses at chromatic sensitivity. We have compared immunohistoquimical photoreceptor’s stain with arrestin, rodopsin, S-opsin and M-opsin. We have used antibodies anti-achromatopsia gens, like GNTA2 and CNGB3. Results: CD1 and NMRI electroretinogram results showed two diff erent visual patrons: a normal responses and coneless vision. An important per cent of CD1 mice (≈ 30%) and NMRI mice (≈ 20%) have visual defects in the photopic responses. affected mice show a very signifi cant reduction on the cone responses (p<0,01). Because we used chromatic stimulus we can say that the photopic defect occur in every cone, we can appreciate colorblindness. ! e structural study allows us to say how the photoreceptors are aff ected when the electroretinogam photopic response is not adequate. functional and cellular results seem to indicate that these mice suff er an achromatopsia. Conclusion: Our experiments show the signifi cant number of coneless mice in a normal order of the experimental animals. Ignorance of visual problems in experimental animals might compromise the results of conductual experiment or other kinds of studies. Electroretinogram tests are recommended before conductual studies with albino mice or diff erent works, to know if the mice have a correct vision.