Differential expression of microRNAs in adipose tissue with aging and caloric restriction

To further analyze the effect of aging and caloric restriction in the microRNA expression, we have employed microarray expression profiling as a discovery platform to identify differentially expressed microRNAs in middle-aged animals and the impact of caloric restriction in the microRNA expression profile. Subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue were extracted from 3 groups of mice: 3 month-old, 12 month-old fed ad libitum and 12 month-old fed with a caloric restricted diet. Comparisons between young and middle-aged animals in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue, and between the 12 month old ad libitum and 12 month old caloric restricted diet in both adipose depots were made. microRNA expression was analyzed in 2 different adipose tissue depots: subcutaneous (scWAT) and epidydimal (eWAT) adipose tissue. For the scWAT, 5 samples from 3 month-old animals, 4 samples from 12 month old ad libitum animals and 3 samples from 12 month old caloric restriction were studied. For the eWAT, 5 samples from 3 month-old animals, 4 samples from 12 month old ad libitum animals and 4 samples from 12 month old caloric restriction were studied.