The electroretinographic technique essentially consists in using light to stimulate the retina in a particular set of environmental conditions. Then, a record is kept of the retina response to the luminous stimulus.The following goals were set for the present research: (i) to develop a protocol for electroretinographic exam in healthy green iguanas in order to elicit normal electroretinograms; (ii) to determine which types of photoreceptors exist in the retina; (iii) to assess the influence which the weight and the snout-vent length exert on the electroretinographic parameters. In the literature references consulted, there are few studies on electroretinography in the green iguana. Besides, none of such studies has resorted to any standard and widely accepted protocol for ophthalmologic exam in either human or veterinary medicine. The results obtained in the quantitative analysis were consistent with the simplex, pure cone retina. This suggests that the electroretinographic exam in the green iguana can abide by a protocol based mainly on photopic evaluation.

La presente tesis se ha basado en conseguir dos objetivos fundamentales: diseñar un protocolo clínico de electrodiagnóstico para obtener el electrorretinograma (ERG) y los potenciales evocados visuales (PEV) en el perro beagle, y elaborar un estándar de los resultados para esta raza.Hemos establecido un protocolo clínico de electrodiagnóstico adaptado a nuestro equipo de diagnóstico, a las características de nuestros pacientes y, en general, a los recursos materiales que teníamos a nuestra disposición. De este modo, hemos conseguido realizar un protocolo de corta duración que nos permite evaluar la funcionalidad de las vías visuales del perro y detectar posibles anomalías.Concluimos que el protocolo que hemos establecido nos permite registrar adecuadamente el ERG y los PEV para el perro beagle, así como obtener resultados fiables y reproducibles que podemos considerar como estándar para esta raza canina y este equipo de electrodiagnóstico. / The aims of this thesis were firstly to design a clinical protocol for Electro, electroretinography (ERG) and visual evoked potential (VEP) in the Beagle dog and, secondly, to develop a performance standard for this breed. A clinical electrodiagnostic protocol adapted to our diagnostic equipment was established. This protocol considered the characteristics of the patients as well as the material resources at our Institution. This protocol allowed us to evaluate the functionality of the visual pathways in order to detect any anomalies. It can be concluded that the protocol established in this Thesis allows to record accurately the ERG and the VEP of Beagle dogs. Moreover, the results are reliable and reproducible and it could be considered as a good standard for this breed when these electrodiagnosis tools are employed.

Las enfermedades neurodegenerativas cursan con la degeneración y muerte de las neuronas las cuales son incapaces de suplir su propia muerte. Debido a esta característica enfermedades como el Alzheimer, el Parkinson o el Glaucoma no tienen cura en la actualidad. La retina es una proyección del sistema nervioso central (SNC) encapsulada en el globo ocular y aislada del resto del SNC, lo que la hace fácilmente accesible a la manipulación experimental. En este trabajo estudiamos las alteraciones funcionales de la retina con el electrorretinograma de campo completo (ERG), técnica basada en el registro de la respuesta eléctrica retiniana tras la presentación de un estímulo de luz homogéneo. Así hemos estudiado los efectos de la sección del nervio, del aumento de presión intraocular y de la fototoxicidad, dichas lesiones afectan selectivamente a determinadas poblaciones neuronales retinianas e imitan enfermedades neurodegenerativas como el Glaucoma o la Degeneración Macular Asociada a la Edad. / Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by degeneration and death of neurons which are unable to recover after a given insult, thus impairing functional recuperation. Because of this, there is no cure for diseases such as Alzheimer, Parkinson or Glaucoma. The retina is a projection of the central nervous system (CNS) located in the eye and therefore, isolated from the rest of the CNS. This makes the retina a very good model for experimental manipulation. In this work we have studied the functional changes in the retina by full field electroretinograme (ERG). This technique records the electric response of the retina after presentation of homogeneous light stimuli. We have studied the effects that optic nerve sections, increase of the intraocular pressure and phototoxicity have on ERG recordings. These lesions impair selectively certain retinal neuronal populations and imitate neurodegenerative diseases as Glaucoma or Age-related Macular Degeneration.