| Abstract: | The renal biopsy tissue from a 9-month-old, male Pyrenean Mountain dog with
renal disorder and severe proteinuria was examined. Ultrastructural examination revealed
multilaminar splitting and fragmentation of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and
diffuse podocyte foot process effacement. Immunofluorescent staining for α(IV) chains
revealed presence of α5(IV) and complete absence of α3(IV) and α4(IV) chains in the GBM.
Immunohistochemistry also revealed decreased and altered expression of nephrin and podocin
in the glomeruli compared with normal canine glomeruli. These results suggested that the
glomerular disease of the present case might be consistent with canine hereditary
nephropathy resembling human Alport syndrome caused by genetic defect of type IV collagen,
and indicated possible contribution of podocyte injury to severe proteinuria in this
case. |
