Analysis of Normalizers and Neurodevelopment-Related microRNAs in the Prefrontal Cortex and in the Sperm of SHR Rats

TL;DR

This study explores miRNA expression in the brain and sperm of SHR rats to better understand schizophrenia's potential epigenetic basis.

Contribution

Identifies miR-Let-7g as a potential normalizer for qPCR in brain and sperm samples from SHR rats.

Findings

miR-Let-7g is a candidate endogenous normalizer for qPCR in brain and sperm.

No changes in SCZ-related miRNA expression were detected in SHR rats.

Further research is needed to evaluate the SHR model for studying SCZ-related miRNA inheritance.

Abstract

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a psychiatric disorder that affects around 1% of the world’s population. Despite the large number of studies about SCZ etiology and heritability, a definitive and clear genetic basis for SCZ and its inheritance has not been established so far. Considering that SCZ is influenced by environmental aspects, the participation of epigenetic mechanisms in the development and manifestation of SCZ is considered. However, longitudinal clinical and molecular studies that follow SCZ development using brain tissue are unfeasible. Thus, animal models, such as the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), have been used to explore some aspects of SCZ. In this study, we investigated the expression of miRNAs related to neurodevelopment and/or to SCZ in the brains and sperm of SHR rats via RT-qPCR. For this, a previous analysis of endogenous qPCR normalizers was performed. The results showed that miR-Let-7g seems to be a candidate endogenous normalizer for the brain and sperm. However, no alteration in the expression of SCZ-related miRNA was detected. These data indicate that further studies must be performed to address the applicability of the SHR model to study the miRNA related to SCZ and its paternal transmission.

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