Objectives To investigate the differential gene expression in hippocampus of nonylphenol (NP)-treated and control weaning rats and to screen part of neurotoxicity-related differential expression genes with gene chip technology for further verification.
Methods Establishing animal models for NP exposure (100 mg/kg·day) during gestation and lactation. mRNA of hippocampus in NP-treated group and control group were isolated at 21 days after birth and the differential gene expression was examined by gene chip technology. The DNA microarrays were scanned by Axon GenePix 4 000 B scanner and the fluorescent values were analyzed by GenePix Pro software (4.1.1.31 Axon).
Results Differentially expressed genes were identified by cDNA microarray. Among the 1 254 genes screened out, 619 genes were up-regulated and 635 genes were down-regulated. The responsibilities of part differentially expressed genes have been understood: ① Neurotrophy-related genes: Nerve growth factor (NGF) gene was down-regulated, galanin (Gal) gene was down-regulated, and growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) gene was down-regulated. ② Apoptosis-related genes: Apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1) gene was up-regulated, cysteine-aspartic acid protease (Caspase 7) gene was up-regulated, and the defender of apoptosis death-1 (DAD1) gene was down-regulated. ③ Signal transduction-related and ion channel-related genes: Glutamate receptor (AMPA2) gene was down-regulated, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ delta (Camk2d) ion transport-related genes was down-regulated.
Conclusions Exposure to NP during gestation and lactation might involve in influencing neurotrophy-related, signal transduction-related and ion channel-related as well as apoptotic factor-related differential gene expression in hippocampus neurons, which might have effects on interfering the function and development of CNS in pups.
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