Use of western immunoblot for evaluation of myocardial dystrophin, alpha-sarcoglycan, and beta-dystroglycan in dogs with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the potential importance of dystrophin, alpha-sarcoglycan (adhalin), and beta-dystroglycan, by use of western blot analysis, in several breeds of dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy.


METHODS
Myocardial samples obtained from 12 dogs were evaluated, including tissues from 7 dogs affected with dilated cardiomyopathy, 4 control dogs with no identifiable heart disease (positive control), and 1 dog affected with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (negative control for dystrophin). Of the affected dogs, 4 breeds were represented (Doberman Pinscher, Dalmatian, Bullmastiff, and Irish Wolfhound).


METHODS
Western blot analysis was used for evaluation of myocardial samples obtained from dogs with and without dilated cardiomyopathy for the presence of dystrophin and 2 of its associated glycoproteins, alpha-sarcoglycan and beta-dystroglycan.


RESULTS
Detectable differences were not identified between dogs with and without myocardial disease in any of the proteins evaluated.


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormalities in dystrophin, alpha-sarcoglycan, and beta-dystroglycan proteins were not associated with the development of dilated cardiomyopathy in the dogs evaluated in this study. In humans, the development of molecular biological techniques has allowed for the identification of specific causes of dilated cardiomyopathy that were once considered to be idiopathic. The use of similar techniques in veterinary medicine may aid in the identification of the cause of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs, and may offer new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
Spier
A W
AW
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
Meurs
K M
KM
Coovert
D D
DD
Lehmkuhl
L B
LB
O'Grady
M R
MR
Freeman
L M
LM
Burghes
A H
AH
Towbin
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D049030:Dystroglycans; D016189:Dystrophin / Q000032:analysis*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000737:chemistry*; D017474:Receptors, Laminin / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D049031:Sarcoglycans
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D016189:Dystrophin; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D017474:Receptors, Laminin; D049031:Sarcoglycans; D049030:Dystroglycans