Project description:To investigate the gene program activated by serotonergic hallucinogens in mouse somatosensory cortex, the effects of the 5-HT2A agonist (±)2,5-dimethoxy 4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) on gene expression was studied. The 5-HT2A serotonin receptor is a member of the 5-HT2 receptor subfamily of G protein–coupled receptors. The 5-HT2A receptor is thought to modulate processes related to cognition, appetite, mood, anxiety, sleep, and sexual behavior. Abnormal function of this receptor has been implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders such as major depression and schizophrenia. In particular, the 5-HT2A receptor has been implicated in the modulation of the mechanisms related to psychosis. We compared gene response patterns in the somatosensory cortical brain area, which has a high density of 5-HT2A receptors and has been implicated in the action of hallucinogenic drugs. Mice (strain 129Sv) were injected with DOI (2 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) or vehicle, animals were sacrificed after 1 h, and somatosensory cortex samples dissected on ice for RNA extraction. Seven independent microarray hybridizations from seven different DOI- or vehicle-treated mouse pairs were performed. Keywords: other
Project description:PURPOSE: To provide a detailed gene expression profile of the normal postnatal mouse cornea. METHODS: Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) was performed on postnatal day (PN)9 and adult mouse (6 week) total corneas. The expression of selected genes was analyzed by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: A total of 64,272 PN9 and 62,206 adult tags were sequenced. Mouse corneal transcriptomes are composed of at least 19,544 and 18,509 unique mRNAs, respectively. One third of the unique tags were expressed at both stages, whereas a third was identified exclusively in PN9 or adult corneas. Three hundred thirty-four PN9 and 339 adult tags were enriched more than fivefold over other published nonocular libraries. Abundant transcripts were associated with metabolic functions, redox activities, and barrier integrity. Three members of the Ly-6/uPAR family whose functions are unknown in the cornea constitute more than 1% of the total mRNA. Aquaporin 5, epithelial membrane protein and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) omega-1, and GST alpha-4 mRNAs were preferentially expressed in distinct corneal epithelial layers, providing new markers for stratification. More than 200 tags were differentially expressed, of which 25 mediate transcription. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to providing a detailed profile of expressed genes in the PN9 and mature mouse cornea, the present SAGE data demonstrate dynamic changes in gene expression after eye opening and provide new probes for exploring corneal epithelial cell stratification, development, and function and for exploring the intricate relationship between programmed and environmentally induced gene expression in the cornea. Keywords: other
