Clinical, neurophysiological, biochemical and morphological features of eyes in Persian cats with mannosidosis.

PubMed ID: 1679268

Author(s): Alroy J, Bachrach A Jr, Thalhammer JG, Panjwani N, Richard R, DeGasperi R, Warren CD, Albert DM, Raghavan SS. Clinical, neurophysiological, biochemical and morphological features of eyes in Persian cats with mannosidosis. Virchows Arch B Cell Pathol Incl Mol Pathol. 1991;60(3):173-80. PMID 1679268

Journal: Virchows Archiv. B, Cell Pathology Including Molecular Pathology, Volume 60, Issue 3, 1991

The clinical, neurophysiological, morphological and biochemical manifestation of eyes from Persian kittens affected with alpha-mannosidosis were studied. Clinically the disease is characterized by progressive corneal and lenticular opacification. In addition there is asymmetry in shape and latency of signal conductions which were demonstrated by visual evoked potential studies. Morphological and histochemical studies revealed vacuolization of various ocular cell types which stained positively with Concanavalia ensiformis agglutinin (Con A) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). Biochemical studies illustrated low activity of acid alpha-mannosidase in cultured keratocytes and abnormal storage of partially degraded oligosaccharides in these cells, in vitreous humor and lens. This comprehensive study of ocular alpha-mannosidosis demonstrates enzyme deficiency which leads to abnormal storage of oligosaccharides in affected cells and is manifested by morphological alterations and functional impairment.