Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Stability of gene expression in postmortem brain revealed by cDNA gene array analysis.

Stacey A Trotter1, Louis B Brill, James P Bennett

  • 1Center for the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.

Brain Research
|May 29, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Mouse brain gene expression remains stable for several hours postmortem, especially with refrigeration. Delays up to 24 hours at room temperature show minor changes in most detected genes.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Making a Case for Adult Orthodontics With Clear Aligner Therapy Provided by the General Dentist.

Compendium of continuing education in dentistry (Jamesburg, N.J. : 1995)·2022
Same author

Mitochondrially-Targeted Therapeutic Strategies for Alzheimer's Disease.

Current Alzheimer research·2021
Same author

Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease.

Biomedicines·2021
Same author

Energy, Entropy and Quantum Tunneling of Protons and Electrons in Brain Mitochondria: Relation to Mitochondrial Impairment in Aging-Related Human Brain Diseases and Therapeutic Measures.

Biomedicines·2021
Same author

Regulation of neuronal bioenergetics as a therapeutic strategy in neurodegenerative diseases.

Neural regeneration research·2021
Same author

Alzheimer's and Parkinson's brain tissues have reduced expression of genes for mtDNA OXPHOS Proteins, mitobiogenesis regulator PGC-1α protein and mtRNA stabilizing protein LRPPRC (LRP130).

Mitochondrion·2020

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Accurate gene expression analysis is crucial for understanding brain function and disease.
  • Postmortem interval (PMI) can significantly impact molecular integrity, potentially affecting gene expression data.
  • Standardizing protocols for brain tissue handling after death is essential for reliable research outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of various postmortem intervals (PMIs) and storage conditions on gene expression in mouse brains.
  • To determine the reliability of gene expression data obtained from brain tissue subjected to different delays before processing.
  • To establish acceptable timeframes for sample collection and storage to maintain data integrity in neurogenomic studies.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Gene expression profiling was performed using nylon arrays.
  • Mouse brains were subjected to different postmortem conditions: immediate processing, 4 hours at room temperature followed by overnight refrigeration, and 8-24 hours at room temperature followed by overnight refrigeration.
  • Brain homogenate pH was measured to assess tissue degradation.

    • Main Results:

    • Gene expression showed high correlation and equivalency to immediate processing after overnight refrigeration or 4 hours at room temperature then overnight refrigeration.
    • A decline in gene expression correlation and equivalency was observed after 8-24 hours at room temperature followed by overnight refrigeration.
    • Despite the decline, 90-95% of detected genes remained within +/-40% of baseline levels.
    • Brain homogenate pH remained stable across all tested PMIs, indicating minimal overall degradation.

    Conclusions:

    • Mouse brain gene expression is remarkably stable for at least 4 hours at room temperature followed by overnight refrigeration.
    • While longer intervals at room temperature (8-24 hours) reduce correlation, a substantial majority of genes retain largely comparable expression levels.
    • These findings suggest flexibility in handling brain tissue for gene expression studies, with refrigeration being a key factor in preserving molecular integrity.