Ontogeny of Flash-Evoked Potentials in Unanesthetized Rats

摘要

The effects of age and stimulation frequency (0.2/sec, 1.0/sec, 2.0/sec, or 4.0/sec) on flash evoked potentials (FEPs) were investigated in awake, unsedated, unrestrained rats. Animals were tested daily from postnatal day (PND) 8 through PND 20, and every three or four days thereafter until PND 41. On PND 9, a single negative wave (N1a was observed following 0.2/sec flash presentation. Animals tested on PND 10 exhibited a positive wave (P2) following the return of peak N1a. Peak N1 became dominant negative wave on PND 14. Peak N1a merged into N1 and had disappeared by PND 19. Peak N3 was first observed as a negative shift following peak P2 on PND 15. Peaks N2 and P3 were not observed in the group average waveforms until PND 34. Peak latencies decreased through the fifth postnatal week. Peak amplitudes increased with age until after eye opening (PND 15), but were variable thereafter. No FEPs were observed following higher than 0.2/sec flash presentation until PND 13. Increasing stimulation frequency decreased N1 and P2 peak amplitudes, but had no effect on peak latencies.