The functional genome of CA1 and CA3 neurons under native conditions and in response to ischemia.

Background: The different physiological repertoire of CA3 and CA1 neurons in the hippocampus, as well as their differing behaviour after noxious stimuli are ultimately based upon differences in the expressed genome. We have compared CA3 and CA1 gene expression in the uninjured brain, and after cerebral ischemia using laser microdissection (LMD), RNA amplification, and array hybridization.

Results: Profiling in CA1 vs.

Global transcriptome analysis of genetically identified neurons in the adult cortex.

The enormous cellular complexity of the brain is a major obstacle for gene expression profiling of neurological disease models, because physiologically relevant changes of transcription in a specific neuronal subset are likely to be lost in the presence of other neurons and glia. We solved this problem in transgenic mice by labeling genetically defined cells with a nuclear variant of GFP. When combined with laser-directed microdissection, intact RNA from unfixed, freeze-dried sections can be isolated, which is a prerequisite for high-quality global transcriptome analysis.

Effects of antidepressant treatment on gene expression profile in mouse brain: cell type-specific transcription profiling using laser microdissection and microarray analysis.

A gene expression study of mice treated with the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline was performed. To enable the detection of cell type-specific expression changes, laser-microdissected nucleus accumbens was analysed after 4 and 28 days of treatment. After 4 days of treatment no significantly regulated genes could be detected in this study.

Molecular characterisation of non-absorptive and absorptive enterocytes in human small intestine.

Background And Aims: Perturbation of differentiation of the crypt-villus axis of the human small intestine is associated with several intestinal disorders of clinical importance. At present, differentiation of small intestinal enterocytes in the crypt-villus axis is not well characterised.

Subjects And Methods: Expression profiling of microdissected enterocytes lining the upper part of crypts or the middle of villi was performed using the Affymetrix X3P arrays and several methods for confirmation.

Identification of novel diagnostic markers for choroid plexus tumors: a microarray-based approach.

To identify specific markers for the diagnosis of choroid plexus tumors, gene expression profiles of choroid plexus epithelial cells (n = 8) and ependymal cells (n = 6) microdissected from human autopsy brains as well as choroid plexus papilloma tissue were investigated using DNA microarrays. Protein expression of genes overexpressed in choroid plexus was evaluated in normal choroid plexus, choroid plexus papilloma, choroid plexus carcinoma, other primary brain tumors, and cerebral metastases. Forty-six genes found to be overexpressed in normal choroid plexus epithelial cells were also present in choroid plexus papilloma.