Retinal pathology of canine X-linked progressive retinal atrophy, the locus homologue of RP3.

Abstract

X-linked retinal degeneration is characterized by initial degeneration of rod photoreceptors, followed by loss of cones and progressive atrophy of the inner retina. Carrier females display a phenotype consistent with random X-chromosome inactivation. Variation in genetic background may alter expression of the disease allele in affected animals, thus accounting for variation in phenotypic expression of the disease.