Sex-related differences in gene expression in neonatal rat hypothalamus assessed by cDNA microarray analysis.
Sexual differentiation of the rodent brain is recognized to involve transcriptional activation of multiple genes induced by gonadal steroids at developmental stages. To identify the genes differing in expression level between sexes, we analyzed gene expression in male and female rat hypothalami at postnatal day 5 by means of a cDNA microarray consisting of 2352 genes. By comparing the expression pattern between sexes, we identified 12 male-enriched genes and 20 female-enriched genes. Among them, the expression pattern of 1 male-enriched gene, jagged homolog 1, and those of 2 female-enriched genes, p27Kip1 and p130, were confirmed to be consistent with microarray data by RT-PCR. Investigation of these genes should help to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying sexual differentiation of the rodent central nervous system.
Yonehara
Keisuke
K
Department of Veterinary Physiology, Veterinary Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Japan.
Suzuki
Masatoshi
M
Nishihara
Masugi
M
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D000072100:Jagged-1 Protein; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D050717:Retinoblastoma-Like Protein p130; D000072099:Serrate-Jagged Proteins; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C493962:Cdkn1b protein, rat; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C000606275:Jag1 protein, rat; D000072100:Jagged-1 Protein; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C493839:Rbl2 protein, rat; D050717:Retinoblastoma-Like Protein p130; D000072099:Serrate-Jagged Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27