Retinopathy of Great Pyrenees dogs: fluorescein angiography, light microscopy and transmitting and scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

Great Pyrenees retinopathy is manifested by multifocal serous retinal and retinal pigment epithelial detachments. These detachments are similar to those noted with central serous retinopathy of humans. The sudden development of multifocal retinal and retinal pigment epithelial detachments, and the serous nature of these detachments, supports a theory that they develop secondary to focal secretion and absorption defects in retinal pigment epithelial cells. Given the age of the puppies when the blocked choroidal fluorescence was noted and maturation of the dog retina at 8 weeks postpartum, this retinopathy is considered to be a retinal pigment epithelial dysplasia. This unique inherited retinopathy offers an opportunity to study retinal pigment epithelial secretion.