Change of gene expression due to aging in the hypothalamus of mice: A DNA microarray analysis

To investigate the gene expression changes in the hypothalamus due to aging, we performed a DNA microanalysis using the hypothalamus samples obtained from young and old mice. We found that several neuropeptide genes, such as agouti-related neuropeptide, neuropeptide Y, and pro-melanin-concentrating hormone, that promote food intakes, were upregulated in old mice. mRNA expression in the hypothalamus was compared between 24-week-old (Young) and 138-week-old (Old) C57BL/6J male mice.

为探究衰老导致的下丘脑基因表达变化，我们利用取自年轻与老年小鼠的下丘脑样本开展了DNA微分析（DNA microanalysis）实验。我们发现，多种促进进食的神经肽基因，如刺豚鼠相关肽（agouti-related neuropeptide）、神经肽Y（neuropeptide Y）以及促黑素细胞凝集素原（pro-melanin-concentrating hormone），在老年小鼠体内呈现上调表达。本研究对24周龄（年轻组）与138周龄（老年组）C57BL/6J雄性小鼠的下丘脑信使RNA（mRNA）表达水平进行了对比分析。