Analysis of the effects of sex hormone background on the rat choroid plexus transcriptome by cDNA microarrays

The choroid plexus (CP) are highly vascularized branched structures that protrude into the ventricles of the brain, and form a unique interface between the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the blood-CSF barrier, that are the main site of production and secretion of CSF. Sex hormones are widely recognized as neuroprotective agents against several neurodegenerative diseases, and the presence of sex hormones cognate receptors suggest that it may be a target for these hormones. In an effort to provide further insight into the neuroprotective mechanisms triggered by sex hormones we analyzed gene expression differences in the CP of female and male rats subjected to gonadectomy, using microarray technology. In gonadectomized female and male animals, 3045 genes were differentially expressed by 1.5-fold change, compared to sham controls. Analysis of the CP transcriptome showed that the top-five pathways significantly regulated by the sex hormone background are olfactory transduction, taste transduction, metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis and circadian rhythm pathways. These results represent the first overview of global expression changes in CP of female and male rats induced by gonadectomy and suggest that sex hormones are implicated in pathways with central roles in CP functions and CSF homeostasis

Number of up and down-regulated genes in rat CP in response to ovariectomy or orchidectomy.

<p>Number of up and down-regulated genes in rat CP in response to ovariectomy or orchidectomy.</p

KEGG pathways with significant association with genes differentially expressed in female and male rat choroid plexus.

<p>KEGG pathways with significant association with genes differentially expressed in female and male rat choroid plexus.</p

Comparison of microarray and Real-Time PCR fold-changes of 15 selected genes differentially expressed in choroid plexus of gonadectomized female and male rats.

<p>Comparison of microarray and Real-Time PCR fold-changes of 15 selected genes differentially expressed in choroid plexus of gonadectomized female and male rats.</p

Primers used to validate microarray results by Real-Time PCR.

<p>Primers used to validate microarray results by Real-Time PCR.</p

Serum E2 and T levels, and body and uterus weight in rats at the time of sacrifice.

<p>Values are means±SEM. Differences between gonadectomized and sham-operated rats were assessed using Mann-Whitney test: **p<0.001; ***p<0.0001.</p