title: Stability of gene expression in postmortem brain revealed by cDNA gene array analysis.
abstract: We utilized nylon arrays to measure gene expression in mouse brains after various postmortem intervals (PMIs). Gene expression after overnight refrigeration or 4 h at room temperature then overnight refrigeration correlated highly and approximately equivalently to that in brains processed immediately. After 8-24 h at room temperature and overnight refrigeration gene expression correlation and equivalency declined, but 90-95% of detected genes were within +/-40% of baseline levels. Brain homogenate pH did not change with PMI.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
authors.forename: Stacey A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Trotter
authors.forename: Louis B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Brill
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D051379:Mice; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D020871:RNA Stability / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger