Brain structural abnormalities in Doberman pinschers with canine compulsive disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Comparative Medicine
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has poorly understood origins and is often diagnosed late.
• Animal models are crucial for understanding the etiology of compulsive disorders.
• Doberman pinschers exhibit canine compulsive disorder (CCD), a condition analogous to human OCD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if CCD in Dobermans is associated with brain structural abnormalities similar to those in human OCD.
• To utilize CCD as a model for understanding the neuroanatomy and etiology of compulsive disorders.

Main Methods:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including structural and diffusion tensor imaging was performed on Dobermans with CCD (N=8) and controls (N=8).
• Image analysis included segmentation, voxel-based morphometry, and diffusion tensor analysis.
• Correlation between brain structural changes and behavioral phenotype severity was assessed.

Main Results:

• Dogs with CCD showed increased total brain and gray matter volumes.
• Reduced gray matter density was observed in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and right anterior insula in CCD dogs.
• Higher fractional anisotropy in the splenium of the corpus callosum correlated with CCD severity.

Conclusions:

• Canine compulsive disorder is associated with structural brain abnormalities comparable to human OCD.
• The CCD model offers advantages for studying the neuroanatomical basis and etiology of compulsive disorders.
• Findings may lead to earlier diagnosis and novel treatments for compulsive disorders in both humans and animals.