Article
The electrical stimulation efficiency of retinal ganglion cells in degenerated mouse retina depends on specific patterns of spontaneous activity
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Published: | November 30, 2017 |
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Outline
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Objective: We examined whether electrical stimulation efficiency is affected by specific patterns of pathological spontaneous activity observed in mouse models of retinal degeneration.
Materials and Methods: Using a multielectrode array system, we applied biphasic current pulses to retinae of wild type mice, rd10 mice, and mice treated with MNU (N-Methyl-N-nitrosourea) while at the same time monitoring the presence or absence of defined patterns of abnormal activity like bursts and oscillations.
Results: Electrical stimulation efficiency was reduced in presence of bursts and oscillations. Using a prestimulus pulse sequence, it was possible to abolish the abnormal retinal activity. In a few cases, the stimulation efficiency was increased after the prestimulus pulse sequence, but in the majority of tested cells it remained unchanged.
Discussion: Our results show that the efficiency for electrical stimulation is compromised by pathological electrical activity. However, our findings also demonstrate the possibility to modify the pathological activity until it resembles wild type activity. This may improve the stimulation efficiency in future stimulation protocols of retinal prostheses.
Acknowledgment: This work was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG): TH 603/15-1, MU 3036/3-1, MU 3036/2-1, WA 1472/6-1