[A procedure for recording electroretinogram (ERG) in conscious monkeys, and effects of some drugs (author's transl)].

Stable ERG was successfully recorded using a contact lens-type electrode in conscious cynomolgus monkeys restrained in a monkey-chair with a specially devised head-holder. After adaptation to darkness, single photostimulation evoked ERG consisting of an initial negative wave (a-wave), followed by a positive wave superimposed with oscillatory potentials (b-wave), and a late positive (c-wave). The former two waves were clearly recorded but c-wave was often mixed with artifacts probably due to eye movements. Amplitudes and peak latencies of a- and b-waves increased in progression of dark adaptation and attained to maximum within 20 min. The optimal intensity of photostimulus and time-constant for recording stable a- and b-waves with intermediate amplitudes were found to be 2 joule and 0.1 sec, respectively. The amplitudes and peak latencies (mean +/- s.d.) of a- and b-waves obtained by these conditions were 163.3 +/- 44.9 and 437.0 +/-37.9 microV, and 17.3 +/- 0.5 and 53.5 +/- 3.2 msec, respectively. These waves were reproducible within 25% variations change in a-wave: pentobarbital increased the amplitude of b-wave, whereas ketamine reduced this amplitude. A 3-day treatment with 1,5-di(p-aminophenoxy)pentane (200 mg/kg/day, p.o.), a retinal toxic and behavioral signs of visual dysfunction. Histological abnormality of the retina was also detected. The results indicate that this technique is useful for recording ERG in order to evaluate the effect of chronically treated drugs on visual perception in conscious monkeys.