Study on differential expression of genes associated with metabolism by cDNA microarry in rat liver treated with berberine chloride

Aim To study the effects of berberine chloride(Ber) on ge ne expression in rat liver. Methods After orally treated with berberi ne chloride for 6 days, the rats were sacrificed and the liver was taken out to extract total RNA. cDNA from negative control group and Ber group were labeled with Cy3-dCTP and Cy5-dCTP separately. These probes were hybridized with cDNA microarray. The acquired image was scanned and analyzed by GenePix Pro 3.0 soft ware. The intensity ratio of Cy5 to Cy3 about each spot was calculated. Re sults Among 4096 genes, 236 genes exhibited differential expression in the group treated with Ber.32 genes related to cell metabolism were differentially expressed with 8 genes up-regulated and 24 genes down-regulated. The genes up -regulated included 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase gene, is ocitrate dehydrogenase 3 gene, diaphorase gene and glucose-6-phosphatase gene. The genes down-regulated included UDP-glucuronosyltransferase gene,cytochrom e P450 2E1 gene, glutathione S-transferase 1 gene ,pregnenolone 16-alpha-car bonitrile-inducible cytochrome P450 gene and S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarbo xylase gene. Conclusion The antihyperglycaemic activity ,anti -cancer effects of Ber and drug interactions between Ber and other drugs maybe related with differential expression of some genes associated with cell metaboli sm.