Glycogen storage disease type II in the Lapland dog

A newly recognized inherited metabolic disease in the Lapland dog is described. The metabolic defect is a deficiency of acid-alpha-glucosidase, a lysosomal hydrolase. The clinical picture is dominated by vomiting related to megaoesophagus, and progressive muscle weakness leading to exhaustion and death before two years of age. Cardiac abnormalities are observed. The main histopathologic lesion consists of glycogen accumulation, notably in membrane-bound vacuoles (glycogenosomes), involving all kinds of muscular tissue in particular. Recessive inheritance of the disease was demonstrated by complementation analysis. The enzyme protein is present in affected tissues, although in an inactive form. Based on the gene dosage phenomenon, an attempt was made to identify carrier dogs by means of a biochemical assay. Glycogen storage disease type II in the Lapland dog appears to be a homologous model for the infantile manifestation of glycogen storage disease type II (Pompe's disease) in man.