Project description:Goal of the experiment: To examine the effects of estrogen and testosterone on gene expression in the rat mesenteric arteries. Brief description of the experiment: A dramatic difference exists in the timing of development of cardiovascular disease in men vs. women. The primary candidates underlying the cause of gender differences in cardiovascular disease are the sex steroids, estrogen and testosterone. The effect of estrogen on the cardiovascular system has been expected to be protective but this concept has become controversial. The effect of testosterone on the cardiovascular system is considered to be deleterious. In spite of these concepts there is little data on the direct effects of estrogen and testosterone on gene expression in the vasculature. Since estrogen and testosterone exert many of their effects through genomic mechanisms, the DNA microarray is an excellent tool for assessing their effects in the vasculature. In this study, ovariectomized Sprague Dawley rats were treated for 4 days with vehicle (sesame oil), estradiol benzoate (0.15 mg/kg/day), or testosterone (1 mg/kg/day). The mesenteric arteries were obtained, total RNA was extracted, and CodeLink Uniset Rat I DNA microarrays (GE) were used to identify differential gene expression. Seven genes were identified as differentially expressed from the DNA microarray data and confirmed by real time RT-PCR. The expression of D site albumin promoter binding protein and fatty acid synthase were increased in response to both estrogen and testosterone. 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, interleukin 4 receptor, JunB and c-Fos expression were increased by estrogen but not by testosterone. The aryl hydrocarbon nuclear translocator-like was reduced by testosterone. These data identify genes not previously known to be responsive to estrogen and testosterone in the vasculature. Keywords: hormone treatment, vasculature, gender differences Experimental factors: hormone treatment Keywords: hormone treatment
Project description:Analysis of hormone effects on irradiated LBNF1 rat testes, which contain only somatic cells except for a few type A spermatgogonia. Rats were treated for 2 weeks with either sham treatment (group X), hormonal ablation (GnRH antagonist and the androgen receptor antagonist flutamide, group XAF), testosterone supplementation (GnRH antagonist and testosterone, group XAT), and FSH supplementation ((GnRH antagonist, androgen receptor antagonist, and FSH, group XAFF). Results provide insight into identifying genes in the somatic testis cells regulated by testosterone, LH, or FSH.
Project description:Background: The vascular wall of small arteries is heavily affected by high blood pressure. However, the underlying mechanisms causing vascular changes are not fully elucidated. Using a novel data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS) approach, we aimed to determine the proteomic changes in small mesenteric arteries during early-onset high blood pressure in a rat model of hypertension. Methods: Snap frozen small mesenteric and renal arteries from the spontaneous hypertension rat (SHR) model and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) control rats were collected from two time points (6- and 12-weels of age) and analyzed by a label free quantitative DIA-MS workflow. Mesenteric arteries from Wister Hannover rats were included as an additional control to clarify genetic drift caused by selective inbreeding. Results: We identified a total of 3956 consistent proteins in the mesenteric artery wall and found that 286 proteins were significantly regulated in 12-weeks old SHRs compared to WKY controls. Comparing to an in silico matrisome database, we identified 38 extracellular matrix-associated proteins that could distinguish SHRs from WKY controls. Furthermore, when comparing the significantly regulated proteins identified in mesenteric and renal arteries, we identified 18 proteins, including Serpina3l, Igg-2a, ENSRNOG00000049829, Acyp2, Enpp3, Lss, Acaa1a, Basp1, an isoform of Basp1, Flot1, Flot2, Gstt1, Nit1, Ppid, Ikbkap, Poglut3, P4ha2 and Usp15, that were changed in both vascular beds. These proteins were associated with vital cellular processes, such as dyslipidemia, protease inhibition, remodeling and generation of reactive oxygen species. Majority of the identified proteins and pathways were associated with hypertension, and mapping the underlying changes help understanding the pathological processes occurring in the arterial wall during early-onset hypertension. Conclusions: Our data provides an in-depth analysis of the proteomic architecture of the mesenteric and renal artery wall from SHRs and WKY control rats. We identified 18 novel candidate proteins that highlights critical changes in small arteries of the SHR.
Project description:This study used Deep RNA sequencing to define gene expression in the small resistance arteries and compare to a reference conduit artery, the aorta Methods: Deep RNA Sequencing (~90 million reads) was performed on 2 samples of adult SD rat mesenteric arteries and compared to that of 2 samples of aorta. Results: ~900 genes were identified that were expressed at least 2-fold difference between meseteric artery and aorta mRNA profiles of 2 samples of rat mesenteric artery and 2 samples of rat aorta were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq