Evaluation of Affymetrix Gene Chip sensitivity in rat hippocampal tissue using SAGE analysis

摘要: DNA microarrays are a powerful tool for monitoring thousands of transcript levels simultaneously. However, the use in studying central nervous system faces several challenges. These include detection low-abundance transcripts highly complex tissue as well estimating relatively low-magnitude changes response to experimental manipulation. Many important brain function have low expression or expressed few cells, making them difficult detect background tissue. The aim present study is evaluate sensitivity Gene Chip by using results from serial analysis gene (SAGE) studies. this comparison indicate that Affymetrix Chips, like SAGE, only reliably medium- high-abundance and transcripts, many which great relevance biological brain, inconsistent. Specifically, we estimate Chips no more than 30% hippocampal transcriptome when gross dissection source This report provides first broad evaluation relevant brain.