Real time PCR quantification of the genes belonging to the functional and transcriptional gene clusters identified by the genome-wide DNA microarray analysis.

Quantitative RT-PCR experiments were performed in triplicate using non-pooled mRNA samples from 3 to 4 different animals and β-actin as internal control. The relative amount of the different genes normalized to the endogenous expression of β-actin was calculated by the formula 2-ΔΔCT where ΔΔCT =  (CTgene - CTβ-actin) LP rat - (CTgene - CTβ-actin) control rat.
*P<0.05;
**P<0.01;
***P<0.001 compared with control animals of the same age.