Airedale Terrier (Search by Breed)

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University of Georgia (University)

Active Grant No: 2434: Recombinant Thyrotropin (TSH): Standard for the Next Generation of Canine TSH Immunoassays with Improved Sensitivity Disease(s): Endocrine Disorders Sponsor(s): Airedale Terrier Club of America, Akita Club of America, Inc., American Belgian Malinois Club, American Boxer Charitable Foundation, American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation, Borzoi Club of America, Clumber Spaniel Club of America, Collie Health Foundation, Dalmatian Club of America Foundation, Inc., English Setter Association of America, Golden Retriever Foundation, Italian Greyhound Club of America, Keeshond Club of America, Komondor Club of America, Miniature Pinscher Club of America, Inc., Norwegian Elkhound Association of America, Inc., Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Club of America, Portuguese Water Dog Foundation, Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States, Scottish Terrier Club of America Health Trust Fund, Yorkshire Terrier Club of America Foundation, Inc. Researcher(s): Duncan Ferguson, DVM, PhD Breed(s): Airedale Terrier, Akita, All (non-specified), Belgian Malinois, Borzoi, Boxer, Clumber Spaniel, Collie, Dalmatian, English Setter, German Shepherd Dog, Golden Retriever, Italian Greyhound, Keeshond, Komondor, Miniature Pinscher, Norwegian Elkhound, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, Portuguese Water Dog, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Scottish Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier Abstract: Hypothyroidism, a failure of the thyroid gland, is the most common hormonal abnormality in dogs, causing a variety of medical problems in many breeds, including hair loss and skin infections. The measurement of serum levels of the pituitary hormone thyrotropin (TSH) has been used as a reliable and sensitive screening test for thyroid glandular insufficiency in human medicine for many years, but the ¿first generation¿ assays for canine TSH (cTSH) are missing as many as one out of four cases of hypothyroidism, resulting in no improvement in diagnostic sensitivity compared to total T4 measurement. Furthermore, the available assays have not been sensitive enough to distinguish low values of cTSH from those in the normal range. Towards the goal of improving current and future immunoassay sensitivity based upon a pure recombinant canine TSH (cTSH) hormone standard, our laboratory has succeeded in cloning and sequencing the two peptide subunits of canine TSH and have expressed them in small quantities. Using techniques recently developed in our parallel work on equine TSH, we plan to express and purify recombinant canine TSH in high quantities and validate its use as a pure immunoassay standard to facilitate its worldwide use.