Differential gene expression profiles of the olfactory bulb after nasal obstruction in neonatal rats
Received 27 September 2007; received in revised form 20 November 2007; accepted 26 December 2007.
Objective
Microarray technique is a useful tool to identify functional gene candidates. In this study, we evaluated the gene expression profiles in the olfactory bulbs of normal rats and naris-occluded rats using the gene microarray technique.
Study Design and Methods
To induce atrophic change in the olfactory bulb, we performed a unilateral nasal obstruction by electronic cauterization on postnatal day 1 rats. Differential gene expression profiles of the nasal obstruction group and the normal control group at postnatal day 35 were analyzed with a DNA microarray.
Results
Microarray revealed 41 genes that were upregulated at least 2-fold in the nasal obstruction group compared with the control group. Among these upregulated genes, increased expression levels of 20 functional genes were confirmed by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
Conclusion
This study examines candidate genes associated with the development, apoptosis, and signal transduction of the olfactory bulb. These results may explain the fact that blockage of airflow by inflammation and nasal polyps causes deprivation of olfactory functions in vivo.
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
Corresponding author: Hak Hyun Jung, MD, PhD, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Anam-Dong 5-Ga 126-1, Sungbuk-Gu, Zip: 136-705, Seoul, Korea.
ABSTRACT