title: Microarray analysis of gene expression after electrical stimulation of the dura mater surrounding the superior sagittal sinus in conscious adult rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The molecular and cellular origins of migraine headache are among the most complex problems in contemporary neurology. Up to now the pathogenesis of migraine still remains unclearly defined. The objective of this study was to explore new factors that may be related to the mechanism of migraine.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study performed a comprehensive analysis of gene expression in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis induced by electrical stimulation of dura mater surrounding the superior sagittal sinus in conscious rats using microarray analysis followed by quantitative real-time reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) verification. Student's two sample t-test was employed when two groups were compared. A P value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing the placebo and the electrical stimulation groups, 40 genes were determined to be significantly differentially expressed. These significantly differentially expressed genes were involved in many pathways, including transporter activity, tryptophan metabolism, G protein signaling, kinase activity, actin binding, signal transducer activity, anion transport, protein folding, enzyme inhibitor activity, coenzyme metabolism, binding, ion transport, cell adhesion, metal ion transport, oxidoreductase activity, mitochondrion function, and others. Most of the genes were involved in more than 2 pathways. Of particular interest is the up-regulation of Phactr3 and Akap5 and the down-regulation of Kdr.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings may provide important clues for a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of migraine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Fengpeng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Ruozhuo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Enchao
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Xiaolin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China. Email: yusy1963@126.com.
authors.forename: Shengyuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D054063:Superior Sagittal Sinus / Q000502:physiology*