Immunohistochemical observation of canine degenerative myelopathy in two Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs

J Vet Med Sci. 2011 Oct;73(10):1275-9. doi: 10.1292/jvms.11-0097. Epub 2011 May 30.

Abstract

Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess whether oxidative stress and/or denatured proteins play roles in the pathogenesis of canine degenerative myelopathy (DM). Two Pembroke Welsh Corgi (PWC) dogs with a homozygous mutation (c.118G>A) in the canine superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene were examined. The pathological features of the dogs were consistent with those of previous cases of DM in PWC. In the spinal lesions, diffuse SOD1 expression was observed in the neurons while no inclusion-like aggregates had formed, which disagreed with the findings of a previous study. A unique inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) staining pattern in reactive astrocytes and a significant increase in ubiquitin immunoreactivity in the spinal lesions were also observed. These findings indicate the involvement of oxidative stress and the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins in the pathogenesis of canine DM, whereas the role of SOD1 remains unclear.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dog Diseases / metabolism*
  • Dogs
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / metabolism
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / veterinary*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Protein Denaturation
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / metabolism
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / veterinary*
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism*
  • Superoxide Dismutase-1
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism

Substances

  • Ubiquitin
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Superoxide Dismutase-1