title: Neuronal nitric oxide synthase polymorphisms in obsessive-compulsive disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disease characterized by recurrent and intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours that negatively affect the quality-of-life of the patients. Recent studies have implicated the participation of neuronal nitric oxide in OCD pathogenesis as a neurotransmitter modulator.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify whether variations in neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) genes may render individuals susceptible to OCD development.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study examined nNOS polymorphisms in 100 OCD patients and 121 unrelated healthy controls by polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  nNOS 276 C + genotype incidence was significantly higher in OCD patients than controls and conferred a 2-fold increased risk for OCD. No significant differences were observed in frequencies of nNOS 84 genotypes between patients and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows an association between nNOS gene polymorphism and OCD. Exact mechanisms by which nNOS gene variants contribute to OCD pathogenesis need to be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology , Istanbul Erenkoy Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Muruvvet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Topaloglu
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neuroscience , Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tuzun
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology , Istanbul Erenkoy Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gulec
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy , Istanbul Yeni Yuzyil University , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif Sinem
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Bireller
authors.affiliation: d Department of Molecular Medicine , Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Bedia
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cakmakoglu
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neuroscience , Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Cem Ismail
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Kucukali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000235:genetics*; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: C496320:NOS1 protein, human; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I
keywords: Obsessive-compulsive disorder; neuronal nitric oxide synthase; polymorphism