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Article: Stanford researchers search for canine narcolepsy gene
- Article from:
- University Wire
- Article date:
- October 22, 1998
- Author:
CopyrightProvided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Jane Morril
University Wire
10-22-1998
(The Stanford Daily) (U-WIRE) STANFORD, Calif. -- In 1973, a veterinarian at UC-Davis discovered a group of poodles who demonstrated sudden muscle paralysis when excited. Intrigued, the doctor gave the dogs to Stanford for study. The donation of these animals, who exhibited symptoms very similar to humans with narcolepsy, marked the beginning of the research on narcolepsy at the University.
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy. Cataplexy is the sudden loss of muscle control, ranging from a slight facial paralysis to a full body limpness. Narcoleptic patients may also experience abnormalities in ...