Effect of desipramine on gene expression in the mouse frontal cortex - microarray study.

BACKGROUND: These studies aimed to identify the genes differentially expressed in the frontal cortex of mice treated repeatedly with either saline or desipramine (DMI).

METHODS: Differences in gene expression in the mouse frontal cortex were studied using a whole-genome microarray approach.

RESULTS: The analyses revealed a group of 88 transcripts (18 genes) that were differentially expressed between the mice treated with saline and those treated with DMI. These genes include Spnb2, Mef2c, Ncam1, Hsp90ab1, Kif1b, Ddx6 and Gsk3b, which were connected in the gene relationship network.

CONCLUSIONS: It appears that one week of DMI administration measurably altered the expression of a small number of genes, including genes connected with neuroplasticity and cytoskeletal changes, the regulation of calcium levels in the cell or translation processes.