[Analyzing the function of different expression genes in the brain of rat exposure to methylmercury using genomics technology].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Analyzing the function of different expression genes in the brain of rat exposure to methylmercury. METHODS: The experimental group of rats were treated with 0.5 mg/kg weight of methylmercury via hypodermic injection. The different expression genes were scanned by using cDNA microarray, and the function genes were analyzed using genomics technology. RESULTS: The gene expression profiles showed that there were 303 genes, in which 170 were upregulated and 133 were downregulated, were differential expressed in the experimental group. Further analysis by bioinformatic technique disclosed that the differentially expressed genes were involved in many biological processes, which included immuno-response and detoxifcation, transfer and expression of genetic information, cell signalling, neurotransduction, cell proliferation and cell differentiation, apoptosis, etc. Cell signaling gene and neurotransduction gene had an very obvious change in the exposure group. CONCLUSION: The signaling pathway was the target by which methylmercury exerted the neurotoxic effects.