ARS | Publication request: DEVELOPING HIGH-DENSITY BOVINE OLIGO MICROARRAYS TO INVESTIGATE GENES INVOLVED IN MAMMARY GLAND DEVELOPMENT

Submitted to: BARC Poster Day
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 21, 2005
Publication Date: May 21, 2005
Citation: Li, R.W., Capuco, A.V., Meyer, M., Boisclair, Y., Van Amburgh, M. 2005. Developing high-density bovine oligo microarrays to investigate genes involved in mammary gland development [abstract]. BARC Poster Day. Paper No. 40.

Technical Abstract: Understanding molecular mechanism of bovine mammary gland development is important to dairy industry. Additionally, the knowledge obtained from bovine mammary gland might provide insights into breast tumorigenesis and reproductive biology. Although much has been learned about the role of ovarian steroid hormones and the localization of their receptors in mammary glands, the networks of gene products whose expression define ductal and lobulo-alveolar development remain to be identified. Little is known about how these developmental processes are brought under hormonal control. In an attempt to identify the genes regulated by estrogen and to evaluate the impact of ovariectomy and estrogen treatment on mammary gland development, we have developed a high-density bovine oligo microarray using Maskless Array Synthesizer technology (MAS). The bovine microarray consists of ~380,000 60mer oligos representing approximately 46,000 unique sequences (genes). Among these genes, approximately 4,500 are unique sequences from our bovine mammary gland and gut libraries. The parenchyma and fat pad portions of mammary glands from pre-pubertal cattle of 4 treatment groups (intact ± estrogen and ovariectomized ± estrogen; 4 animals in each group) have been collected. Related morphological and physiological parameters have been recorded. Total RNA samples have been extracted from the tissues. Real-time RT-PCR has been used to verify expected molecular changes in these samples. The labeled RNA samples are being hybridized to 32 bovine oligo microarrays. The genes and pathways induced by estrogen treatment and ovariectomy will be discussed.