microRNA expression profile in whole lung of rat pups at P10 or P21 day of life after a intrauterine growth restriction due to a low protein diet during gestation

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether microRNA profiles during alveolarization are affected by an intrauterine growth restriction after a low protein diet during gestation. MicroRNA expression were assessed in the lungs of five animals per group at P10 and P21 after birth in a rat model of low protein diet-induced IUGR. Total RNA was extracted using the Rneasy kit (Qiagen, Courtaboeuf, France), according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The 20 samples were individually hybridized on a miRNA-4_0 chips. Microarray hybridization on miRNA 4.0 chips (Affymetrix) was conducted at the genomic platform of the Institut Cochin, Paris.