The electroretinographic change by the acute effects of N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine

The electrophysiological effects of N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (NMPTP), a chemical inducer of Parkinsonism in man and monkey, on the pigmented rabbit retina were determined under acute conditions. The amplitude of the b-wave of the rabbit electroretinogram was affected, but both the implirit time and half-amplitude duration of it werenot. The amplitude of the photopic b-wave was increased by 72.9 ± 32.1% 5hours after the intravenous injection of NMPTP (P[t] < 0.05), whereas that of the scotopic b-wave was decreased by 31.2 ± 6.4% 4hours after injection (P[t] < 0.05).