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Microarray analysis of gene expression in brains of adult female offspring of rats fed high salt during pregnancy
Author(s) -
Porter James P.,
King Summer H.,
Adolphson Stephen J.,
Andrews Terrence W.
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a1410-a
Adult female offspring of rats fed a high‐salt diet during pregnancy exhibit an enhanced cardiovascular response to acute stress. In this study, microarray analysis was used to identify candidate genes that are differentially expressed in the brain that may influence the cardiovascular response to stress. Adult (2.5–3.5 months) female offspring of rats eating 0.7% (NS) or 8% (HS) NaCl during pregnancy (n=4 per group) were killed and total RNA was extracted from whole brain. Rat genome chips (Affymetrix, 230 2.0) were used for expression analysis. 21 genes were differentially expressed (ratio ≥ 1.5) in the adult HS versus NS offspring (p < 0.05). Of these, 7 known genes and 4 ESTs were up‐regulated and 7 known genes and 3 ESTs were down‐regulated. Cytosolic epoxide hydrolase (Ephx2) was down‐regulated 1.65 fold. Pharmacologic inhibition of this enzyme in the brain is known to increase blood pressure and heart rate. Other candidate genes with significant differential expression, but with ratios less than 1.5, included angiotensin converting enzyme (Ace) and AT 2 receptor (Agtr2) which were down‐regulated 1.23 and 1.16 fold, respectively. The ionotropic glutamate receptor (Glur4) was up‐regulated 1.23 fold. Future work will seek to determine if the differential expression of these candidate genes contributes to the stress hyperresponsiveness in adult female HS offspring. Supported by AHA, Western States Affiliate.