Expression profile of miRNA-29a in neural cells

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression profile of microRNA (miRNA)-29a in mice neural cells.  Methods Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze miRNA-29a expression changes of neurons and astrocytes after 3, 7, 15, 21 d of primary culture in vitro, and cortex tissue of 3, 7, 15, 21 d old mice.  Results miRNA-29a expression increased in nervous system with the growth of mice. Compared with the 3th day, miRNA-29a relative expression on the 7th, 15th, 21th days in neurons, astrocytes and cortex tissue were obviously higher (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). At each time point, the relative expression levels of miRNA-29a in cultured astrocytes were 20-40 times higher than in cultured neurons (P = 0.000), and levels in cortex tissue were about 1/3 that seen in cultured astrocytes (P = 0.000).  Conclusions With the growth and development of brain cortex of mice, miRNA-29a is highly expressed in astrocytes, reflecting its abundant and specific expression.

DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2015.01.009