The Dominant white mutation in the PMEL17 gene does not cause visual impairment in chickens.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether the Dominant white mutation (causing a hypopigmented phenotype in chicken) affects the visual ability and gives rise to ocular abnormalities in chickens (Gallus gallus).


METHODS
Chickens homozygous for either the Dominant white mutation or the wild-type alleles were tested in a visual contrast behavioral test and subjected to histological and ophthalmologic examination.


RESULTS
There were no differences between the genotypes in the visual contrast behavioral test, and there were no abnormal structures among the Dominant white chickens in the ophthalmic examination. The histological sections from the Dominant white chickens did not differ from the wild-type chicken in structure, photoreceptor density, or RPE pigmentation.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that the Dominant white mutation in PMEL17 does not seem to affect the visual ability or eye structures in chickens.
Karlsson
Anna-Carin
AC
IFM Biology, Division of Zoology, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden.
Kerje
Susanne
S
Hallböök
Finn
F
Jensen
Per
P
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional / Q000502:physiology*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D012160:Retina / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000662:veterinary