Global changes in the expression patterns of RNA isolated from the hippocampus and cortex of VX exposed mice

✍ Scribed by Jason L. Blanton; Jonathan A. D'Ambrozio; James E. Sistrunk; Eric G. Midboe

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 957 KB
• Volume: 18
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1095-6670
• DOI: 10.1002/jbt.20015

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

One of the established activities of the nerve agent VX is inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This inhibition affects the cholinergic nervous system by decreasing the activity of the neurotransmitter‐hydrolyzing enzyme cholinesterase (ChE). In an effort to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular pathways affected by low‐level exposure to VX, an expression profiling approach was used to identify genes with altered RNA expression patterns after exposure.

Specifically, mice were exposed to 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 LD~50~ VX for a period of 2 weeks. At 2 h, 72 h, and 2 weeks after the final exposure, RNA was isolated from both the hippocampus and the cortex. Changes in gene expression levels were assessed by DNA microarray technology and grouped according to their expression patterns. Data presented here demonstrate that 2 weeks postexposure all up‐regulated gene expression has returned to pre‐exposure levels, including genes related to the central nervous system. Additionally, this investigation has revealed non‐AChE pathway genes involved in other neuronal functions that display altered expression profiles after VX exposure. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 18:115–123, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20015