Correlations between ERG, OCT, and Anatomical Findings in the rd10 Mouse

Background. To evaluate the correlation between ERG, OCT, and microscopic findings in the rd10 mouse. Methods. C57BL/6J wild type mice and rd10 mice were compared at the age of 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 24, and 48 weeks (each age group n = 3) using full-field electroretinography (ERG), spectral domain Optical Coherence Tomography (sd-OCT), fluorescein angiography (FA), Hematoxylin & Eosin histology (HE), and immunohistology (IH). Results. While in wild type mice, the amplitude of a- and b-wave increased with light intensity and with the age of the animals, the rd10 mice showed extinction of the ERG beginning with the age of 5 weeks. In OCT recordings, the thickness of the retina decreased up to 9 weeks of age, mainly based on the degradation of the outer nuclear layer (ONL). Afterwards, the ONL was no longer visible in the OCT. HE staining and immunohistological findings confirmed the in vivo data. Conclusion. ERG and OCT are useful methods to evaluate the retinal function and structure in vivo. The retinal changes seen in the OCT closely match those observed in histological staining.