title: The electroretinographic phenotype of dogs with Golden Retriever muscular dystrophy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the flash electroretinogram (ERG) in the Golden Retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) dog and to compare the results with those from a control group of Golden Retrievers. To investigate whether similar abnormalities of the ERG as those found in a majority of human patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are also observed in the GRMD dog, the canine model for DMD. Animals Five GRMD dogs and five age-matched clinically normal Golden Retrievers.
  
  
  METHODS
  An ophthalmic examination was carried out prior to performing electroretinography under general anesthesia. Rod, combined rod-cone and oscillatory potentials responses were recorded after dark adaptation. Responses to 30-Hz-flicker were recorded after light adaptation. The ERG responses of the GRMD dogs were compared with those of the control dogs by use of a Wilcoxon signed rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GRMD dogs had significantly reduced a and b-wave amplitudes after dim white flash stimuli (rod response) and reduced a-wave amplitude after bright white flash stimuli (rod-cone response).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ERG abnormalities observed in the GRMD dog suggest a dysfunction in the rod signaling pathway. These ERG alterations are different from those observed in human patients with DMD.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology and Neurology unit, Department of Small Animal and Equine Medicine, National Veterinary College of Alfort, 7 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, France. wab23@cornell.edu
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Beltran
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chahory
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gnirs
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Escriou
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blot
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clerc
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004285:Dogs; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000662:veterinary; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D008297:Male; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology*