Genome-Wide Analysis of Gene expression in the Pituitary Gland of the Pregnant Dam

Analysis of gene expression in the pituitary gland of pregnant versus non-pregnant dams. We describe the dynamic control of pituitary gene expression in the pregnant mother, with implications for the regulation of maternal metabolic adaptations to pregnancy. Females (c57BL6/J strain) from independent litters were randomly allocated to the mating (n = 8) or virgin (n = 4) groups. Females were mated with c57BL6/J studs the day of the vaginal plug was recorded, and the gravid females were sacrificed at e15.5 by terminal anaesthesia. The whole pituitary was removed from the skull and immediately snap frozen, then stored at -80 °C. RNA was extracted and processed for gene expression profiling.本研究针对妊娠与未妊娠母鼠的垂体组织开展基因表达分析，阐明了妊娠母体垂体基因表达的动态调控机制，其研究结果可为妊娠期间母体代谢适应的调控提供理论参考。实验选取来自不同窝的C57BL/6J品系（c57BL6/J）雌性小鼠，随机分为交配组（n=8）与处女组（n=4）。于记录到阴道栓（vaginal plug）当日，将雌性小鼠与C57BL/6J品系种公鼠合笼；妊娠母鼠于胚胎第15.5天（e15.5）经终末麻醉实施安乐死。从颅骨中剥离完整垂体组织后立即进行液氮快速冷冻，并置于-80℃冰箱保存。随后提取RNA并开展基因表达谱分析。