Genetic Test
The ARHGEF10 (Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 10) gene encodes an enzyme involved in the development and maintenance of peripheral nerves.
This protein plays a regulatory role in nerve cell signaling and axon structure.
Mutations in ARHGEF10 have been associated with reduced nerve conduction velocity, indicating impaired signal transmission along peripheral nerves.
This genetic test targets a specific ARHGEF10 mutation associated with a form of polyneuropathy observed in Leonberger dogs.
Disease Description
Polyneuropathy is a neurological disorder caused by damage to the peripheral nerves, which extend from the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) to the rest of the body.
These nerves are responsible for transmitting sensory information from the limbs (such as the paws) to the brain, and for carrying motor commands from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles.
Leonberger polyneuropathy is a breed-specific form of this disorder, primarily affecting Leonberger dogs.
It is characterized by progressive dysfunction of the peripheral nerves, leading to clinical signs such as laryngeal paralysis and motor nerve impairment, which can result in changes to vocalization, breathing difficulties, and muscle weakness.
