Measuring Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity by Optomotor Reflex in Rodents

Scientists share case studies and experimental data from various applications using a newly developed automated system to measure vision based on the optomotor reflex.

There is a growing need for behavioral readouts to monitor disease progression and to assess the success of a potential therapy. In vision research, observing the optomotor reflex (OMR) is an important and widely established method for assessing visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in rodents. These tests can be performed with freely moving animals without any need for anaesthesia or restraints. In addition, since OMR is a reflex-based behavior, observing it does not require any training of the animal.

In this webinar, sponsored by Striatech and supported in part by Stoelting, researchers will present objective and bias-free results obtained using a newly developed automated optomotor system. Professor Volker Enzmann from the University Hospital Bern will discuss the pros and cons of using OMR measurements as a readout tool for visual performance in mouse models of retinal degeneration. In addition, he will share data from his research on multiple sclerosis, laser treatment and treatment with sodium iodate.

Dr. Kaushikaram Subramanian from the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology & Genetics in Dresden will explain how chromatin architecture affects light scattering by photoreceptor nuclei. Following, he will show how the chromatin architecture found in night-active animals provides a visual advantage under scotopic conditions.