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Disturbance of post‐natal lung development in Norwich terriers
Author(s) -
Anttila Marjukka,
Dillard Kati,
Vainio-Siukola Katri
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.658.1
Subject(s) - lung , pathology , vimentin , medicine , sma* , cd31 , puppy , immunohistochemistry , biology , ecology , mathematics , combinatorics
An arrest in the post‐natal lung development is a major cause of death in Norwich terrier puppies. Pedigree analysis indicates that the disorder is inherited. In dogs the lungs at term are in the saccular phase and the development into the alveolar stage occurs during the neonatal period. In the affected lungs the alveolar septae are poorly developed and the alveolar walls are thicker than normal. Immunohistochemical staining for vimentin, smooth muscle actin (SMA), CD31 and thrombomodulin was used to characterize the cells forming the alveolar parenchyme. There is a sequential and spatial pattern of SMA staining in normal canine lung examined 3 days, 3 weeks and 3 months after birth. The pattern appears to be similar in the affected puppies up to 3 weeks of age. Our canine model enables us to study a spontaneously occurring disease. The aim is to describe the genetic background of this congenital pulmonary disorder and to learn more about the molecular events involved in post‐natal lung development. In addition we wish to develop a DNA test for breeding purposes to eradicate the disease in Norwich terrier breed.