成年及幼年Long-evans大鼠视皮层HSP8基因的表达差异

HSP8 gene expression in visual cortex of juvenile and adult Long-evans rats

目的:观察热休克蛋白8(heat shock protein 8,HSP8)基因在幼年和成年Long-evans大鼠视皮层中的表达水平,探讨其在视觉可塑性关键期中的作用。方法:采用半定量RT-PCR方法,分析处于视觉可塑性关键期内的幼年Long-evans大鼠和处于视觉可塑性关键期后的成年Long-evans大鼠视皮层中HSP8基因的表达水平。结果:幼年大鼠和成年大鼠视皮层间HSP8mRNA表达量有显著性差异,成年大鼠视皮层中HSP8/G3PDH为0.68±0.03,幼年大鼠视皮层中HSP8/G3PDH为0.14±0.06,HSP8mRNA在成年大鼠视皮层中表达水平显著高于幼年大鼠(P<0.05)。结论:HSP8基因在视觉可塑性关键期后的成年大鼠视皮层中呈高水平表达,是视觉可塑性关键期终止相关的候选基因。

AIM： To observe heat shock protein 8 （HSP8） gene expression level in visual cortex of juvenile and adult Long-evans rats and to investigate the role of HSP8 gene in the critical period of neuroplasticity in visual cortex. METHODS： The expression levels of HSP8 gene were analyzed through semi-quantitative RT-PCR in the visual cortex of juvenile and adult Long-evans rats. Juvenile rats were in the critical period of visual plasticity whereas adult rats had passed this period. RESULTS： The expression levels of HSP8 mRNA were significantly different between the visual cortex of juvenile and adult rats. In adult rats HSP8/G3PDH was 0.68±0.03, whereas in juvenile rats it was 0.14±0.06. The expression level was significantly higher in the visual cortex of adult rats than that of juvenile rats （P〈0.05） CONCLUSION： HSP8 gene was highly expressed in the visual cortex of adult rats which had passed the critical period of visual plasticity. The results confirmed that HSP8 gene was the candidate gene related to the termination of the critical period of visual plasticity in the rat.