Fig. 5.
Respiratory function in LRMD dogs. Healthy dogs are represented by empty grey circles, GRMD dogs by grey dots, and LRMD dogs by black symbols. Dogs included in this assessment were adults (> 10 months). a, b Results of diaphragmatic kinematics on videofluoroscopic acquisitions. a The angle formed at the ventral edge of the diaphragmatic foramen of the caudal vena cava, between a line perpendicular to the vertebral axis and a line joining the caudal edge of the 11th thoracic vertebra is reduced in LRMD dogs attesting to the caudal retraction of the diaphragm at similar levels as GRMD dogs. b The diaphragm range of motion is decreased in LRMD dogs compared to healthy dogs, but to a lesser extent than in GRMD dogs. c, d Results from spirometric acquisitions. c The expiratory flow at 75% of the expired volume, expressed as a percentage of the peak expiratory flow, is decreased in LRMD dogs, in comparison to healthy dogs; values observed in LRMD dogs overlap with those obtained in GRMD dogs. d The ratio of the peak inspiratory flow on the peak expiratory flow is decreased in LRMD dogs, overlapping with the lowest values obtained in the GRMD population. Interestingly, for most of the respiratory indices assessed, LRMD14, the dog with a milder locomotor phenotype, had better values than the other LRMD dogs studied. T13 13th thoracic vertebra. EF75 expiratory flow at 75% of the expired volume, PEF peak expiratory flow, PIF peak inspiratory flow