ABSTRACT
Objective Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is widely used in gene expression analysis.Selection of proper housekeeping gene is very important.Rat model of myocardial infarction is a major animal model of myocardial infarction.Few reports are found about the selection of rat housekeeping gene after myocardial infarction.This study was aimed to explore the stability of the housekeeping genes expression in the rat model of myocardial infarction.Methods Myocardial infarction models were made using the anterior descending coronary artery ligation method.Combining with practical work,analysis and selection were made of four widely used standard housekeeping genes:glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH),ribosomal protein L13A (RPL13A),beta-actin (ACTB) and acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P0 (ARBP).The expressions in the rat heart were compared using real-time fluorescent RT-PCR and analysis was carried out to figure out which was the most suitable housekeeping gene for study of gene expression in rats after myocardial infarction using GeNorm program.Results The M values of RPL13A,GAPDH,ARBP and ACTB gene were 0.812,0.721,0.812 and 1.2 respectively.Conclusion GAPDH and ARBP are the most stable genes for the rat myocardial infarction model.