title: Spinal muscular atrophy in Brown Swiss calves.
abstract: Nineteen Brown Swiss calves affected with spinal muscular atrophy were described. Weakness of the rear legs was the first sign observed at 3 to 4 weeks of age. Terminal stages were characterized by severe muscular atrophy, quadriparesis, and sternal recumbency. Bronchopneumonia was a frequent complicating disease. Microscopic changes consisted mainly of degeneration and loss of motor neurons in the ventral horns of the spinal cord. Neurogenic atrophy of muscles was a constant finding. Electron microscopy revealed accumulation of neurofilaments and mitochondria in affected neurons. The disease shares many features with Werdnig-Hoffmann disease in man and the spinal muscular atrophies of other animals.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: el-Hamidi
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Leipold
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Vestweber
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saperstein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D009134:Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000648:ultrastructure*