ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the differential expression of P57kip2 and CDK5 in neural tube defects t(NTD) from the normal ,and provide the clue for the research of the molecular mechanism of the normal neurula formation .Methods A cDNA mi-croarray containing 1 100 known genes was used to compare differences in P57kip2 and CDK5 gene expression between the normal control group and the retinoic acid(RA)-induced NTD group on embryonic(E) day 9 .5 and 10 .5 .Two differentially expressed genes were randomly selected from the two groups for Northern blotting to verify the results of the cDNA microarray .Results Compared the differences of between P57kip2 and CDK5 in normal and E9 .5 d ,E10 .5 d ,E9 .5 d-NTD ,E10 .5 d-NTD ,P57kip2 and CDK5 expression was significantly up-regulated in the before and after the formation of the normal neurulation ,but them showed a downward trend in retinoic acid (RA)-induced NTD(including two phase E9 .5 d and E10 .5 d) .Conclusion P57kip2 and CDK5 in-volved in the physiological process of NTD ,and provide the useful clue for the research of the molecular mechanism of the normal neurula formation .