Project description:Major urinary proteins (MUP) are the major component of the urinary protein fraction in house mice (Mus spp.) and rats (Rattus spp.). The structure, polymorphism and functions of these lipocalins have been well described in the western European house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus), clarifying their role in semiochemical communication. The complexity of these roles in the mouse raises the question of similar functions in other rodents, including the Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus. Norway rats express MUPs in urine but information about specific MUP isoform sequences and functions is limited. In this study, we present a detailed molecular characterization of the MUP proteoforms expressed in the urine of two laboratory strains, Wistar Han and Brown Norway, and wild caught animals, using a combination of manual gene annotation, intact protein mass spectrometry and bottom-up mass spectrometry-based proteomic approaches. Detailed sequencing of the urinary MUP isoforms reveals a less complex pattern of primary sequence polymorphism in the rat than the mouse. However, rat MUPs exhibit added complexity in the form of post-translational modifications, including the phosphorylation of Ser4 in some isoforms, and exoproteolytic trimming of specific isoforms.
Project description:Rats vary in their susceptibilities to Toxoplasma gondii infection depending on the rat strain. Compared to the T. gondii-susceptible Brown Norway (BN) rat, the Lewis (LEW) rat is extremely resistant to T. gondii. Thus, these two rat strains are ideal models for elucidating host mechanisms that are important for host resistance to T. gondii infection. Therefore, in an attempt to unravel molecular factors directing the protective early innate immune responses in the LEW rat, we performed RNA sequencing analysis of the LEW versus BN rat, with or without T. gondii infection.
Project description:Anterior pituitary glands were isolated from 21 week old male rats either untreated or treated for 12 weeks with the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES). Three biological replicates were prepared for untreated, control animals and four biological replicates were prepared for DES-treated animals. This was done for each of 3 inbred rat strains: ACI, Copenhagen, and Brown Norway. Expression profiles were determined using Affymetrix Rat Genome 230 v. 2.0 arrays. Comparisons of untreated vs. treated animals within a strain will allow identification of estrogen responsive genes. Comparisons between strains, either treated or untreated, will identify strain (i.e., genetic) differences in expression. Keywords: Estrogen Response
Project description:The Brown Norway (BN) strain of rat is an inbred normotensive strain. BN rats of both sexes present some interesting pathophysiological phenotypes involving arteries and the kidneys. These include internal elastic lamina (IEL) ruptures in the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries, a deficit in aortic elastin content, a persistent ductus arteriosus, hydronephrosis and hematuria. Spontaneous rupture of the internal elastic lamina occurs in various arteries during growth and aging, in different rat strains, both normotensive and hypertensive. Most strains present such ruptures in their caudal and renal arteries, although to different extents (Osborne-Pellegrin 1985; Coutard and Osborne-Pellegrin 1991). However, the BN strain is the only rat strain to spontaneously develop numerous IEL ruptures in the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries (Osborne-Pellegrin et al., 1989; Behmoaras J et al., 2005). In this respect, it is exceptional. In this study samples of abdominal aortae of BN- and LOU-rats (here as control) were compared Keywords: strain effect
Project description:Examination of gene expression associated with hypoxia treatment of rat strains FHH ( Fawn Hooded Hypertensive) and BN(Brown Norway).
Project description:Examination of gene expression associated with hypoxia treatment of rat strains FHH (Fawn Hooded Hypertensive) and BN (Brown Norway).
