A recent study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science titled “Perceptual Visual Acuity Declines With Age in a Rat Model of Retinitis Pigmentosa While Light Perception is Maintained”, led by Dr. Shogo Soma (Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine) and Naofumi Suematsu (Osaka University), explores how retinal degeneration impacts visual function across time.
Using a combination of behavioral testing and high-density electrophysiological recordings, the team showed that form vision (grating detection) in Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats sharply declined by 9 weeks of age. However, light perception remained robust until at least 11 weeks, likely due to the function of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs).
Crucially, the researchers employed NeuroNexus 32-channel silicon microelectrode arrays (A2x16-10mm-100-500-413-A32) to record from the primary visual cortex (V1), dorsolateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), and superior colliculus (SC) in awake rats. These tools allowed them to precisely track neural responses to both structured and non-structured visual stimuli, providing a detailed view of the decline in spatial vision and the resilience of light response pathways.
This work not only enhances our understanding of retinal degeneration but also provides a robust framework for evaluating the effectiveness of emerging treatments for conditions like retinitis pigmentosa.
