Project description:Oligodendrocytes are cells from the central nervous system that can be grouped into precursors, myelin-forming, and non-myelinating perineuronal. The function of perineuronal oligodendrocytes is unknown; it was suggested that they can ensheath denuded axons. We tested this hypothesis. Using cell-specific tags, microarray technology and bioinformatics tools to identify gene expression differences between these subpopulations allowed us to capture the genetic signature of perineuronal oligodendrocytes. Here we report that perineuronal oligodendrocytes are configured for a dual role. As perineuronal, they integrate a repertoire of transcripts designed to create a cell with its own physiological agenda. But they maintain a reservoir of untranslated transcripts encoding the major myelin proteins for â we speculate â a pathological eventuality. We posit that the signature molecules PDGFR-αβ, cytokine PDGF-CC, and the transcription factor Pea3 used â among others - to define the non-myelinating phenotype, may be critical for mounting a myelinating programme during demyelination. Harnessing this capability is of therapeutic value for diseases such as multiple sclerosis. This is the first molecular characterization of perineuronal oligodendrocytes. Experiment Overall Design: Flow Cytometry was used to isolate A2B5/OTMP+ oligodendrocytes from postnatal day 7 rat brain. 4 bioloical replicates were obtained. This data can be compared to the previously submitted oligodendrocyte expression data (GSE5940).
Project description:Oligodendrocytes undergo extensive changes as they differentiate from progenitors into myelinating cells. To better understand the; molecular mechanisms underlying this transformation, we performed a comparative analysis using gene expression profiling of A2B5+; oligodendrocyte progenitors and O4+ oligodendrocytes. Cells were sort-purified ex vivo from postnatal rat brain using flow cytometry. Using Affymetrix microarrays, 1707 transcripts were identified with a more than twofold increase in expression inO4+oligodendrocytes. Many genes required for oligodendrocyte differentiation were upregulated in O4+ oligodendrocytes, including numerous genes encoding; myelin proteins. Transcriptional changes included genes required for cell adhesion, actin cytoskeleton regulation, and fatty acid and; cholesterol biosynthesis. At the O4+ stage, there was an increase in expression of a novel proline-rich transmembrane protein (Prmp). Localized to the plasma membrane, Prmp displays adhesive properties that may be important for linking the extracellular matrix to the; actin cytoskeleton. Together, our results highlight the usefulness of this discovery-driven experimental strategy to identify genes relevant; to oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination. Experiment Overall Design: Whole brain dissociates were prepared from one litter of 10 male postnatal day 7 rat pups for each of the 5 A2B5 bioligcal replicates and the 4 O4+ bioligical replicates. Total RNA was extracted from single A2B5+ and single O4+ cells sorted directly from postnatal day7 rat whole brain dissociates using flow cytometry.
Project description:In order to establish a rat embryonic stem cell transcriptome, mRNA from rESC cell line DAc8, the first male germline competent rat ESC line to be described and the first to be used to generate a knockout rat model was characterized using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis.
Project description:Oligodendrocytes are cells from the central nervous system that can be grouped into precursors, myelin-forming, and non-myelinating perineuronal. The function of perineuronal oligodendrocytes is unknown; it was suggested that they can ensheath denuded axons. We tested this hypothesis. Using cell-specific tags, microarray technology and bioinformatics tools to identify gene expression differences between these subpopulations allowed us to capture the genetic signature of perineuronal oligodendrocytes. Here we report that perineuronal oligodendrocytes are configured for a dual role. As perineuronal, they integrate a repertoire of transcripts designed to create a cell with its own physiological agenda. But they maintain a reservoir of untranslated transcripts encoding the major myelin proteins for – we speculate – a pathological eventuality. We posit that the signature molecules PDGFR-αβ, cytokine PDGF-CC, and the transcription factor Pea3 used – among others - to define the non-myelinating phenotype, may be critical for mounting a myelinating programme during demyelination. Harnessing this capability is of therapeutic value for diseases such as multiple sclerosis. This is the first molecular characterization of perineuronal oligodendrocytes. Keywords: developmental
Project description:Analysis of LBNF1 rat testes from controls, containing both somatic and all germ cell types and from irradiated rats in which all cells germ cells except type A spermatgogonia are eliminated. Results provide insight into distinguishing germ and somatic cell genes and identification of somatic cell genes that are upregulated after irradiation.
Project description:Few studies have assessed the patterns of parasite populations of rodents over a longitudinal gradient in Chile. In this work, the gastrointestinal helminthic fauna of invasive rodents in Chile was examined to assess the association between their presence/absence and abundance with latitude, host sex, and host body condition, and to assess the coexistence and correlation of the abundance between parasite species. Rodents were obtained from 20 localities between 33 and 43°S. Helminths were extracted from the gastrointestinal tract and identified morphologically. Overall, 13 helminth taxa were obtained. The most frequently identified parasite species was Heterakis spumosa, and the most abundant was Syphacia muris, while Physaloptera sp. was the most widely distributed. No locality presented with a coexistence that was different from that expected by chance, while the abundance of five helminthic species correlated with the abundance of another in at least one locality, most likely due to co-infection rather than interaction. Host sex was associated with parasite presence or abundance, and female sex-biased parasitism was notably observed in all cases. Body condition and latitude presented either a positive or negative association with the presence or abundance of parasites depending on the species. It is notable that the likely native Physaloptera sp. is widely distributed among invasive rodents. Further, gravid females were found, suggesting spillback of this species to the native fauna. The low frequency and abundance of highly zoonotic hymenolepid species suggest that rodents are of low concern regarding gastrointestinal zoonotic helminths.
Project description:Effect of erythropoietin (EPO) and leukemia-inhibitory factor (LIF) on gene expression profiling in differentiating rat CG4-EPOR oligodendrocytes
Project description:Effect of erythropoietin (EPO) and leukemia-inhibitory factor (LIF) on miRNA expression profiling in differentiating rat CG4-EPOR oligodendrocytes