Linked Life Data

17825348

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/17825348

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
2008-2-6
pubmed:abstractText
A measure of improved vision remains the most meaningful way to demonstrate the efficacy of a therapy. Animal models allow us to describe the pathology of inherited retinal degenerations and to evaluate emerging therapies in specific disorders in ways not possible in human subjects. The potential use of mice in this role has been limited by the lack of a simple, unambiguous and practical test of an innate visually guided behavior. To begin to address this need, we have developed equipment and protocols to measure a performance enhancing effect of vision on use of a running wheel; a scotopic visually guided behavior termed positive masking. This assay is objective, quantitative, automated and can be adapted for in-depth studies of visual thresholds, longitudinal studies of visual pathology or treatment efficacy, and large scale screening programs. Proof-of-principle experiments show that our equipment and protocols are able to characterize the full range of masking responses in normal mice in an informative and efficient manner. A sustained activity increase across a range of dim light irradiances was consistent with scotopic visual guidance of behavior, while at higher irradiances a dose dependent suppression of activity was apparent. This study also describes for the first time the interaction of experience and vision in performing a task. Specifically, we identified an experience dependent acclimatization to wheel use in scotopic conditions; a performance reduction in complete darkness; and a partial but not complete recovery of performance levels with experience in complete darkness. This suggests that where visual guidance is performance enhancing but not essential, loss of the contribution of visual guidance to the tasks might be compensated for by experience or training.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Feb
pubmed:issn
0042-6989
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
48
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
346-52
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2008
pubmed:articleTitle
Visual function testing: a quantifiable visually guided behavior in mice.
pubmed:affiliation
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and The Carver Family Center for Macular Degeneration, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, 4111 MERF, 375 Newton Road, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. stewart-thompson@uiowa.edu
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't