Evaluation of visual performance for RCS rats: A tailor-made OMR setup via DeepLabCut and PsychoPy with a customized algorithm

Abstract

In this study, we developed an optimized optomotor response (OMR) setup for rats based on existing commercial systems and introduced a novel method that integrates DeepLabCut, PsychoPy, and custom algorithms to automate OMR performance evaluation in rats. Our primary findings revealed the optimal spatial frequency (SF) and grating velocity for pigmented Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) and wild-type (WT) rats. The RCS rats, a model for retinal degeneration, displayed normal OMR performance at postnatal days 30 (P30) and 50 (P50), but a significant decline was observed at 3 months. In most rats aged 6 and 12 months, the percentage of correct responses (PoC) was 50%, indicating blindness. The high efficiency and reproducibility of our non-invasive OMR test, along with its suitability for post-surgical and retinal degeneration models, underscores its potential for broad applications in visual performance evaluation.