PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate a chromatic pupillometry protocol for specific functional assessment of rods, cones, and intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) in dogs.MethodsChromatic pupillometry was tested and compared in 37 dogs in different stages of primary loss of rod, cone, and combined rod/cone and optic nerve function, and in 5 wild-type (WT) dogs. Eyes were stimulated with 1-s flashes of dim (1 cd/m2) and bright (400 cd/m2) blue light (for scotopic conditions) or bright red (400 cd/m2) light with 25-cd/m2 blue background (for photopic conditions). Canine retinal melanopsin/Opn4 was cloned, and its expression was evaluated using real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and immunohistochemistry.ResultsMean ± SD percentage of pupil constriction amplitudes induced by scotopic dim blue (scDB), scotopic bright blue (scBB), and photopic bright red (phBR) lights in WT dogs were 21.3% ± 10.6%, 50.0% ± 17.5%, and 19.4% ± 7.4%, respectively. Melanopsin-mediated responses to scBB persisted for several minutes (7.7 ± 4.6 min) after stimulus offset. In dogs with inherited retinal degeneration, loss of rod function resulted in absent scDB responses, followed by decreased phBR responses with disease progression and loss of cone function. Primary loss of cone function abolished phBR responses but preserved those responses to blue light (scDB and scBB). Although melanopsin/Opn4 expression was diminished with retinal degeneration, melanopsin-expressing ipRGCs were identified for the first time in both WT and degenerated canine retinas.ConclusionsPupil responses elicited by light stimuli of different colors and intensities allowed differential functional assessment of canine rods, cones, and ipRGCs. Chromatic pupillometry offers an effective tool for diagnosing retinal and optic nerve diseases.

Purpose To examine the in vivo microanatomy of retinal folds and geographic lesions in dogs with acquired or inherited retinal dysplasia. Material and methods Thirteen dogs had retinal microanatomy evaluation under general anesthesia using cSLO/sdOCT; two eyes had noninherited multifocal retinal folds, five had inherited multifocal retinal folds (drd1 or drd2), and 10 geographic retinal dysplasia. Retinas from two drd2 carrier dogs were examined by histology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) after in vivo imaging. Results Retinal folds are the common feature of acquired focal/multifocal or geographic retinal dysplasia, are indistinguishable structurally from those associated with syndromic oculoskeletal dysplasia, and represent outer nuclear layer invaginations and rosettes visible by sdOCT. In dogs heterozygous for oculoskeletal dysplasia, the folds form clusters in a perivascular distribution along superior central vessels. IHC confirmed photoreceptor identity in the retinal folds. The geographic dysplasia plaques are not focally detached, but have inner retinal disorganization and intense autofluorescence in cSLO autofluorescence mode that is mainly limited to the geographic lesion, but is not uniform and in some extends beyond the plaques. Conclusion We propose that the autofluorescent characteristic of the geographic lesions is associated with an inner retinal disruption associated with perivascular or infiltrating macrophages and phagocytosis of cellular debris. As well, we suggest restructuring the examination forms to distinguish the folds that are sporadically distributed from those that have a perivascular distribution as the latter likely represent carriers for drd. In this latter group, DNA testing would be a helpful tool to provide specific breeding advice.

Ectomesenchymal chondromyxoid tumor (ECT) is a rare benign neoplasm usually affecting the anterior dorsum of the tongue. Histopathologically, it is formed by spindle, round and/or polygonal cells embedded in a chondromyxoid matrix. Immunohistochemical positivity for vimentin, S‐100 protein, glial fibrillary acid protein and neuron‐specific enolase are helpful to confirm the diagnosis. There are 42 cases of ECT of the tongue reported in the English language literature, three of them showing no chondroid matrix. We describe two additional cases of ECT lacking the chondroid component, exhibiting areas of reticulated myxoid and cellular pattern. Considering the microscopical features, ECT can be classified in classic and ‘chondroid‐free’ variants, the latter including the reticulated myxoid and cellular patterns. It is important to consider that the cellular ECT usually exhibits predominance of an infiltrative atypical cellular component that may mimic a malignant tumor. Palma Guzmán JM, de Andrade BAB, Rizo VHT, Romañach MJ, León JE, de Almeida OP. Ectomesenchymal chondromyxoid tumor: histopathologic and immunohistochemical study of two cases without a chondroid component.

Ameloblastic fibro-odontoma (AFO) is a slow-growing, expansive, benign odontogenic tumor, composed of ameloblastic epithelium embedded in an ectomesenchymal stroma resembling dental papilla, containing hard dental tissue in variable degrees of maturation, including enamel, dentin, and sometimes cementum. AFO typically affects the posterior mandible, causing bony expansion. We report a case of pigmented AFO in a 5-year-old boy, comprising clinical and histological features illustrated by immunohistochemistry using a large panel of antibodies, polarized light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.