Electroretinogram (ERG) evaluation for HCN inhibitor in rats: search for the retinal cells in which functional abnormality by Ivabradine was noted with long-duration light stimuli

Abstract

We investigated the effects of Ivabradine, a HCN inhibitor, on the b-wave trough and c-wave which are known to appear after the b-wave, using ERG in rats. Ivabradine at 12 and 40 mg/kg was subcutaneously administered to Long-Evans rats and the dark-adapted ERG with long-duration light stimuli was conducted at 1.5 hours after administration. In the Ivabradine-treated rats, the waveforms of b-wave trough were changed and the c-waves were attenuated, which implying that Ivabradine might affect the functions of any of retinal cells, photoreceptor, retinal pigment epithelium and Müller cells.