Gene Expression Analysis in Rat Pancreas Observed with Whole-Transcript Exon Array after Ventromedial Hypothalamic Lesions

Abstract

Background: It was reported previously that using Affymetrix Rat Genome 230 2.0, one of a class of standard 3′ based arrays, ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) lesions affected the expressions of cell proliferation-related genes, neuron-related genes, and metabolism-related genes. The released Affymetrix Rat Gene 1.0 ST array has 2 major differences compared with standard 3′ based arrays, including Rat Genome 230 2.0: it interrogates the entire mRNA transcript and uses DNA targets. Purpose: This study is aimed at assessing the impact of these differences on the array performance. Methods: The study used Rat Gene 1.0 ST array, one of a class of whole-transcript rat exon arrays to examine the cellular mechanisms of gene regulation in the rat pancreas after VMH lesions. Results: Although the results showed that VMH lesions regulated genes involved in enzymes, metabolism, transport, binding differentiation, migration, morphology, apoptosis, neuron and immunity, the probes identified by these 2 arrays were remarkably different. Conclusion: This study also confirmed that VMH lesions may affect the expression of many functional genes in rat pancreas.