title: Peripheral hypomyelinization in two golden retriever littermates.
abstract: Peripheral hypomyelinization was found in 2 Golden Retriever littermates that had pelvic limb ataxia, depressed postural reactions, and depressed segmental reflexes. Diagnostic findings included infrequent denervation potentials, reduced or absent evoked potentials, and markedly diminished motor nerve conduction velocities. Light and electron microscopy of peripheral nerves revealed fewer than normal myelinated axons, myelinated sheaths inappropriately thin for the caliber of the fiber, poor myelin compaction, greater than normal numbers of Schwann cell nuclei, many Schwann cells with voluminous cytoplasm, and greater than normal amount of perineural collagen. Findings were compatible with a peripheral hypomyelinization process; a defect in Schwann cell function was suspected.
authors.affiliation: Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blackburg 24061.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Matz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shell
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Braund
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001259:Ataxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D004576:Electromyography / Q000662:veterinary; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000473:pathology