COL6A1 related muscular dystrophy in Landseer dogs: A canine model for Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy.

INTRODUCTION Collagen VI related myopathies are congenital diseases of variable phenotype. The severe phenotype is referred to as Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy. In this study, we describe analoguos clinical signs and histopathological alterations in Landseer dogs. MATERIALS We collected clinical data from 2 affected dogs and investigated the neuromuscular changes in 5 dogs from 2 different litters with immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. All affected dogs were homozygous for the p.Glu97* nonsense variant in the COL6A1 gene encoding the alpha-1 chain of collagen VI. RESULTS Muscle biopsies revealed alterations similar to those in human patients with Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy including the virtual absence of collagen VI in skeletal muscles. DISCUSSION The clinical and pathological characterization of the affected Landseer dogs enhances the value of this animal model for human Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.