Microarray analysis of gene expression in mice ovaries exposed to a 1.765 GHz microwave in utero / 대한산부인과학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects on murine fetal ovarian gene expression of prenatal exposure to 1.765 GHz of microwave irradiation. METHODS:Ten pregnant ICR mice were divided into two groups. At 5th days after mating, dam mice were exposed to microwave (SAR 0.38~1.71 W/kg) in the insulated cage for 8 hours each day. The remaining mice were treated in the same way. Neonatal ovaries were removed for study 7 days after delivery. Microarray analysis was performed using total RNA extracted from the removed ovaries. We investigated the differences in ovarian gene expression between the groups. SPSS 12.0 was used for statistical analysis. P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean birth weight of the offspring in the irradiated group was significantly lower than that in the sham group (1.54+/-.22 g vs. 1.60+/-.21 g, P=0.012). The mean number of offspring per pregnancy in the irradiated group was significantly higher than in the sham group (13.60+/-.70 vs. 11.40+/-.17, P=0.009). We detected that in the irradiated ovaries, 14 genes were expressed at levels 2-fold higher than in the sham ovaries and 74 genes were expressed at levels 2-fold lower than in the sham ovaries. CONCLUSION: We found differences in fetal ovarian gene expression between the irradiated and sham groups. In the irradiated group, the Tnfaip8, TNFsf 12, Cfd, CCL 11, and Zfp74 genes were down-regulated and the Brd 3 gene was up-regulated.