(a) Representative examples of VEP amplitude changes in
response to gratings of high contrast and of decreasing bar size
(increasing spatial frequency) in a wild-type (WT) and a β2−/−
mouse. VEP amplitude decreases by progressively increasing the spatial
frequency. Visual acuity was determined by linearly extrapolating VEP
amplitude to 0 V, the set of data points close to the noise level.
Examples of gratings of increasing spatial frequency are shown below
the abscissae. (b) Spatial resolution in the visual
cortex and in the retina of wild-type and β2−/− mice. Visual
acuity is significantly reduced in β2−/− mice compared with
wild-type mice at the cortical (β2−/−, 0.30 ± 0.05
c/degrees, n = 9; WT, 0.59 ± 0.08
c/degrees, n = 4; *, P
< 0.01, Student's t test) but not at the retinal level
(β2−/−, 0.60 ± 0.07 c/degrees, n = 3;
WT, 0.57 ± 0.04 c/degrees, n = 3;
P > 0.05, Student's t test). Bars
represent mean ± SEM. (c) Representative examples
of VEP amplitude changes in response to coarse gratings (0.06
c/degrees) of decreasing contrast. VEP amplitude decreases by
progressively reducing the contrast. Contrast threshold was determined
by linear extrapolation of VEP amplitude to 0 V, the set of data points
close to the noise level. Examples of gratings of increasing contrast
are shown below the abscissae. (d) Contrast threshold is
normal in β2−/− mice compared with wild type (β2−/−,
4.8 ± 0.3%, n = 4; WT, 4.6 ± 0.5%,
n = 3; P > 0.05, Student's
t test). Bars represent mean ± SEM.