Genome-wide copy number variation study associates metabotropic glutamate receptor gene networks with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, heritable neuropsychiatric disorder of unknown etiology. We performed a whole-genome copy number variation (CNV) study on 1,013 cases with ADHD and 4,105 healthy children of European ancestry using 550,000 SNPs. We evaluated statistically significant findings in multiple independent cohorts, with a total of 2,493 cases with ADHD and 9,222 controls of European ancestry, using matched platforms. CNVs affecting metabotropic glutamate receptor genes were enriched across all cohorts (P = 2.1 × 10(-9)). We saw GRM5 (encoding glutamate receptor, metabotropic 5) deletions in ten cases and one control (P = 1.36 × 10(-6)). We saw GRM7 deletions in six cases, and we saw GRM8 deletions in eight cases and no controls. GRM1 was duplicated in eight cases. We experimentally validated the observed variants using quantitative RT-PCR. A gene network analysis showed that genes interacting with the genes in the GRM family are enriched for CNVs in ～10% of the cases (P = 4.38 × 10(-10)) after correction for occurrence in the controls. We identified rare recurrent CNVs affecting glutamatergic neurotransmission genes that were overrepresented in multiple ADHD cohorts.     

Occurrence of a blood group A-like substance in eggs of the prosobranch snailPomacea canaliculata

Summary In the eggs of the prosobranch snailsPomacea canaliculata andPomacea insularum a blood group A-like substance has been detected by anti-A from the snailsHelix pomatia, Helix aspersa andCepaea nemoralis.     

New lectin receptors in carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).

The glycoprotein CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) carries carbohydrate groups, which react with the plant lectins from Agaricus bisporus, Arachis hypogaea (peanut), with Tridacnin from invertebrate clams and with the anti-A lectins from snails. Accordingly, it has cryptantigenic structures, which correspond to the T or T-like antigen, the Tridacnin receptor and to the so called A-like antigen.     

New lectin receptors in carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

Summary The glycoprotein CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) carries carbohydrate groups, which react with the plant lectins fromAgaricus bisporus, Arachis hypogaea (peanut), with Tridacnin from invertebrate clams and with the anti-A lectins from snails. Accordingly, it has cryptantigenic structures, which correspond to the T or T-like antigen, the Tridacnin receptor and to the so called A-like antigen.Acknowledgment. This work has been supported by Landesamt für Forschung NRW.     

An incomplete anti-B agglutinin in the eggs of the prosobranch snailPila ovata

Zusammenfassung In den Eiern der SchneckePila ovata wurde ein Agglutinin aufgefunden, welches in «inkompletter» Weise mit einem Blutgruppen-B-ähnlichen Antigen von verschiedenen Erythrozyten reagiert. Agglutinations-und Agglutinationshemmtiter werden mit denen von den verwandten SchneckenPomacea urceus undPomacea canaliculata verglichen.     

Atrial natriuretic peptide causes pre-glomerular vasodilatation and post-glomerular vasoconstriction in rat kidney

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) can be extracted from rat hearts, and is found to increase fluid excretion by the kidneys when injected into test animals. The mechanism of ANP action is still unclear. ANP may reduce sodium reabsorption in the renal tubules, but it is also known that it increases the rate of glomerular filtration in the kidney, and relaxes preparations of smooth muscle, including one made from arteries that supply the kidney. To clarify its mode of action, we have studied directly the effects of semi-purified and synthetic ANP on blood vessels in the kidney of anaesthetized rats. We found that ANP causes a vasodilatation of the blood vessels which supply the glomeruli and a vasoconstriction of the arterioles which drain them. This substantiates the finding that increased filtration pressure participates in the natriuretic response.