Montreal Children's Hospital

About: Montreal Children's Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 3842 authors who have published 4816 publications receiving 200198 citations.

DNA methyltransferase is developmentally expressed in replicating and non-replicating male germ cells

Abstract: Genomic methylation patterns are established during maturation of primordial germ cells and during gametogenesis. While methylation is linked to DNA replication in somatic cells, active de novo methylation and demethylation occur in post-replicative spermatocytes during meiotic prophase (1). We have examined differentiating male germ cells for alternative forms of DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase (DNA MTase) and have found a 6.2 kb DNA MTase mRNA that is present in appreciable quantities only in testis; in post-replicative pachytene spermatocytes it is the predominant form of DNA MTase mRNA. The 5.2 kb DNA MTase mRNA, characteristic of all somatic cells, was detected in isolated type A and B spermatogonia and haploid round spermatids. Immunobolt analysis detected a protein in spermatogenic cells with a relative mass of 180,000-200,000, which is close to the known size of the somatic form of mammalian DNA MTase. The demonstration of the differential developmental expression of DNA MTase in male germ cells argues for a role for testicular DNA methylation events, not only during replication in premeiotic cells, but also during meiotic prophase and postmeiotic development.

Auditory-musical processing in autism spectrum disorders: a review of behavioral and brain imaging studies.

Abstract: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by atypical social and communication skills, repetitive behaviors, and atypical visual and auditory perception. Studies in vision have reported enhanced detailed ("local") processing but diminished holistic ("global") processing of visual features in ASD. Individuals with ASD also show enhanced processing of simple visual stimuli but diminished processing of complex visual stimuli. Relative to the visual domain, auditory global-local distinctions, and the effects of stimulus complexity on auditory processing in ASD, are less clear. However, one remarkable finding is that many individuals with ASD have enhanced musical abilities, such as superior pitch processing. This review provides a critical evaluation of behavioral and brain imaging studies of auditory processing with respect to current theories in ASD. We have focused on auditory-musical processing in terms of global versus local processing and simple versus complex sound processing. This review contributes to a better understanding of auditory processing differences in ASD. A deeper comprehension of sensory perception in ASD is key to better defining ASD phenotypes and, in turn, may lead to better interventions.

Phosphate transport in immortalized cell cultures from the renal proximal tubule of normal and Hyp Mice: Evidence That the HYP gene locus product is an extrarenal factor

Abstract: Whether renal phosphate wasting in X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) results from an intrinsic renal or humoral defect remains controversial. In studies of the murine homolog of XLH, harboring the Simian Virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen, we obviated the influence of renal cell heterogeneity and impressed memory by comparing Na(+)-phosphate cotransport in immortalized cells from the S1 segment of the proximal tubule. Cells from SV40 transgenic normal and Hyp mice exhibit characteristics of differentiated proximal tubule cells including gluconeogenesis and alkaline phosphatase activity. Surprisingly, however, we found two distinct populations of cells from the S1 proximal tubule of both normal and Hyp mice. In one, PTH treatment increases cAMP accumulation, while in the other both PTH and thyrocalcitonin enhance cAMP production. Kinetic parameters for Na(+)-phosphate cotransport were similar in both subpopulations of cells from normal (Km, 0.29 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.39 +/- 0.04 mM; Vmax, 4.6 +/- 0.6 vs. 5.2 +/- 0.4 nmol/mg/5 minutes) and Hyp mice (0.33 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.26 +/- 0.04; 6.0 +/- 0.7, 4.8 +/- 0.6). More importantly, phosphate transport in S1 cells of either subpopulation from Hyp mice is no different than that of normals. These data indicate that renal proximal tubule cells from Hyp mice have intrinsically normal phosphate transport and support the hypothesis that a humoral abnormality underlies renal phosphate wasting in XLH.