Abstract
BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) in dogs is a common endocrinopathy with a complex genetic architecture. Disease susceptibility in several breeds is associated with polymorphisms in immune response genes, but in the Labrador retriever breed, no genetic associations with DM have been identified. A deletion in the pro‐opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene in Labrador retrievers is associated with increased appetite and risk of obesity.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo characterize the POMC deletion in Labrador retrievers, to develop a simple genetic test for this mutation, and to test the hypothesis that the POMC gene deletion is associated with an increased risk of DM in this breed.AnimalsSixty‐one non‐diabetic Labrador retrievers aged >6 years and 57 Labrador retrievers with DM.MethodsCase–control genotyping study to compare the frequency of the POMC deletion in dogs with and without DM. After polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing to characterize the mutation, a PCR‐based test was developed and validated using 2 different restriction fragment length polymorphism assays.ResultsA 14‐base‐pair deletion was confirmed and localized to exon 3 of the canine POMC gene. A PCR‐based test for the deletion was successfully developed. There was no association between the presence of the POMC deletion mutation and DM in this population of Labrador retriever dogs (P = .31).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThis study adds to the existing scientific literature indicating that there is little evidence for a direct link between obesity and DM in dogs.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) in dogs is a common endocrinopathy with a complex genetic architecture
The mutation in the canine POMC gene was reported as a 14-base-pair deletion in exon 3,19 but more precise details of the deletion had not been published before this study being undertaken
Sanger sequencing was used to confirm the presence of a 14-base-pair deletion in the canine POMC gene, as previously reported[19] (Fig 2), as this work was undertaken before the full publication of the mutation sequence.[14]
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) in dogs is a common endocrinopathy with a complex genetic architecture. Disease susceptibility in several breeds is associated with polymorphisms in immune response genes, but in the Labrador retriever breed, no genetic associations with DM have been identified. A deletion in the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene in Labrador retrievers is associated with increased appetite and risk of obesity. Hypothesis/Objectives: To characterize the POMC deletion in Labrador retrievers, to develop a simple genetic test for this mutation, and to test the hypothesis that the POMC gene deletion is associated with an increased risk of DM in this breed. After polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing to characterize the mutation, a PCR-based test was developed and validated using 2 different restriction fragment length polymorphism assays. There was no association between the presence of the POMC deletion mutation and DM in this population of Labrador retriever dogs (P = .31).
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