[The gene expression patterns of genetic P77PMC epilepsy-prone rats' hippocampus].
OBJECTIVE
To find out the differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus of the rats with genetic epilepsy so as to lay a foundation for exploring the pathogenesis of epilepsy by means of cDNA array technology.


METHODS
Gene expression patterns in the hippocampus of the genetic epilepsy-prone P77PMC rats and normal Wistar rats were established using the alpha-32P-labeled cDNA probes hybridized with the Atlas Rat cDNA Expression Array, and then were analyzed by an image analysis instrument to get the differentially expressed genes.


RESULTS
Fifteen genes were found having differential expression patterns in hippocampus between the P77PMC rats and the Wistar rats, while there may be many other differentially expressed genes left undiscovered due to having no appropriate image analysis software. And among the fifteen genes, the expression levels of twelve genes in the P77PMC rats were higher than those in the Wistar rats, while the expression levels of the other three genes were lower. The results of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) have demonstrated the reliability of cDNA arrays method.


CONCLUSIONS
cDNA array is a powerful tool for identifying differential expression genes of epilepsy on large scales. There are several differentially expressed genes in hippocampus of the P77PMC rats and the Wistar rats. All these identified genes could play potentially important roles in the pathogenesis of epilepsy.
Wu
Zhi-guo
ZG
Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008 P. R. China.
Xiao
Bo
B
Yang
Xiao-su
XS
Tang
Fa-qing
FQ
Zeng
Yi
Y
Xie
Guang-jie
GJ
D000818:Animals; D002147:Calmodulin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D002147:Calmodulin; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger