[ SHOWGSD-L ] Hip Dysplasia: Breakthrough discovery leads to powerful genetic test

From: stormy435 <stormy435@xxxxxxx>
To: "showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:22:12 -0700
This probably is "old news" as I checked the website and it actually is from 
the 2007 annual report, not 2008 as noted below.  But just in 
case...................
Hip Dysplasia: Breakthrough discovery leads to powerful genetic test


Hip Dysplasia: Breakthrough discovery leads to powerful genetic test 

http://blogforshowdogs.blogspot.com/ ;

Excerpt: 

The challenge was posed nearly forty years ago; the trail has been hot for
the last two. Long-standing partnerships have resulted in advances in
diagnosing and understanding hip dysplasia in dogs, a disease that occurs
when a specific combination of genes exists and results in hip
osteoarthritis and disability. 

Research indicates that, in addition to Labrador Retrievers, discoveries in
the diagnosis and treatment of hip dysplasia will assist other breeds
including Border Collies, Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, Rottweilers,
German Shepherds and Newfoundland dogs, and has the potential to offer
insights into similar diseases in other mammals. 

In 2007, with grant support from the Morris Animal Foundation and Pfizer
Incorporated, Dr. George Lust and colleagues Dr. Rory Todhunter, Steven
Friedenberg and Dr. Zhiwu Zhang discovered the first panel of genetic
markers that could lead to genetic testing for the diagnosis of canine hip
dysplasia. With a new sample of dogs, they plan to verify the accuracy of
this panel of genetic markers for hip conformation that can predict the
breeding value of the dog. 

A breakthrough in diagnosis, these genetic tests are expected to be more
accurate than current procedures, less expensive to perform, and enable
earlier identification of both normal dogs and those at risk for hip
dysplasia. Genetic tests may also reduce the need for progeny testing. 

"This has been a long-sought goal," says Dr. Lust. "Now, with one DNA sample
we are on the road to telling if a young dog will develop normally. We will
not need to wait until the dog is old enough to undergo the current
radiographic screening." The research team also identified a mutation in the
gene for fibrillin 2 that segregates in a sample of dysplastic dogs and
nondysplastic dogs. Fibrillin 2 is a gene expressed in the tissue o f hip
joints. This is the first gene reported to be associated with canine hip
dysplasia. The discovery opens opportunities for defining the biochemical
basis of the disease. 

In other related research, Dr. Lust partnered with Dr. Bernard G. Steinetz
at the New York University Medical Center to study the relationship of two
milk-borne hormones--- relaxin and estrogen---to the onset of hip dysplasia.
In a controlled study, the investigators concluded that early anti-hormone
treatments may be able to negate the effects of the milk-borne hormones as
they relate to induction of canine hip dysplasia. 

Exerpted from: The Baker Institute Annual Report 2008 
--
Stormy Hope
www.carpoc.org
AKC Legislative Liaison, GSDCA
Sunshine Squad <showgsd.org/sunshine.html)
GSDs and more

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[ SHOWGSD-L ] Hip Dysplasia: Breakthrough discovery leads to powerful genetic test

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