Retinal Dopamine and its Metabolite Contents in Zitter Rats and Spontaneously Epileptic Rats

In order to investigate the relationship between visual dysfunction and retinal DA metabolism in zitter rats and spontaneously epileptic rats (SER), we measured the amounts of retinal dopamine (DA) and its metabolites, 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillate (HVA) . DA, DOPAC and HVA contents were markedly decreased in zitter rats as compared with the controls, Kyo: Wistar or Sprague-Dawley rats. In contrast, in SER, retinal DA and its metabolite contents were not significantly different from those of Kyo: Wistar rats. SER showed higher levels of DA and its metabolites in comparison with Sprague-Dawley rats. Thus, it is suggested that the debilitation of retinal DA synthesis is at least partly related to the visual dysfunction observed in zitter rats, but not that of SER.