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It has previously been shown that miniature poodles with regressive rod-cone degeneration (PRCD) have lower plasma levels of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) than normal poodles and it has been suggested that affected animals have a defect in the motabolism of 22:6n-3. To test this hypothesis in vivo, PRCD affected and normal miniature poodles were given daily oral supplements of linsee oil (enriched in 19:3n-3, 20:5n-3, and 22:5n-3 between affected and normal dogs. Therefore, there appears to be no abnormality in the elongation and desaturation system that takes 18:3n-3 and 22:5n-3. Surprisingly, the plasma level of 22:6n-3 was reduced in both groups …

Opsin mRNA level and immunoreactivity were examined by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry in normal and progressive rod cone degeneration (prcd)-affected dogs. In situ hybridization used 35S- and/or 3 H-labeled bovine opsin cRNA probes; immunocytochemistry used six monoclonal mouse anti-bovine opsin antibodies (MAb1) that are specific to different regions of the N-terminal, loop v-vi and the C-terminal domains. Optimal labeling and histological resolution at the single cell level were achieved with semi-thin sections of DGD wax-embedded tissues; it was possible to correlate the cytochemical observations with the disease staging in topographically defined regions that exhibited different disease severity. In early …