Journal of East China Normal University(Natural Sc ›› 2011, Vol. 2011 ›› Issue (6): 89-99.

• Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Identification of genes associated with age-related memory impairment in rats

ZHANG Shuang, WANG Lin, DONG Su-zhen   

  1. Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education & Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
  • Received:2010-11-01 Revised:2011-02-01 Online:2011-11-25 Published:2011-11-22

Abstract: A large body of evidence indicates that memory impairment is associated with normal aging. Interestingly, some older individuals do not show any memory loss. To understand the molecular mechanisms of the age-related memory disorder, gene expression profiles of hippocampus and entorhinal cortex from 24-month-old memory-impaired and maze were examined using high-density DNA microarrays. The results demonstrated that 47 genes in the hippocampus and 37 genes in the entorhinal cortex showed dynamic changes in their expressions levels. Surprisingly, the overall patterns of gene expression changes in these two brain regions were significantly different. Nevertheless, a number of key genes involved in structure organization, neurotransmission, signaling transduction, transcription, immunity and oxidative signaling were differently expressed in both brain regions. These genes and signal pathways may play essential roles in the regulation of memory. Our results provided important information for understanding the molecular mechanism of age-related memory impairment.

Key words: genes, memory impairment, aging, neurotransmission

CLC Number: