| Abstract: | The renal biopsy tissue from a 9-month-old, male Pyrenean Mountain dog withrenal disorder and severe proteinuria was examined. Ultrastructural examination revealedmultilaminar splitting and fragmentation of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) anddiffuse podocyte foot process effacement. Immunofluorescent staining for α(IV) chainsrevealed 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 podocinin the glomeruli compared with normal canine glomeruli. These results suggested that theglomerular disease of the present case might be consistent with canine hereditarynephropathy resembling human Alport syndrome caused by genetic defect of type IV collagen,and indicated possible contribution of podocyte injury to severe proteinuria in thiscase. |
