Article
Correlation of glucocorticoid receptor expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and cochlea in guinea pigs
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Published: | April 4, 2012 |
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Objective: To establish a correlation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) content between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and cochlea in guinea pigs at mRNA and protein levels.
Methods: Guinea pigs (32) were randomly divided into two groups, including 15 in dexamethasone group and 17 in control group. Dexamethasone group received dexamethasone (5 mg/ml, 10 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally for 7 consecutive days, while normal saline was used for control group. Then PBMCs and bilateral cochlear tissue were separated. Real time PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression level of GR mRNA and GR protein in PBMCs and cochlear tissue, respectively. The data were analyzed with SPSS software16.0.
Results: The GR mRNA and GR protein were expressed in both PBMCs and cochlear tissue in guinea pigs. The expression level of GR mRNA and GR protein was increased significantly in dexamethasone group and expression levels of GR mRNA and GR protein in PBMCs correlated well with those in the cochlea.
Conclusions: Levels of GR mRNA and GR protein in the PBMCs could reflect indirectly those in the cochlea in guinea pigs. There may be a close relationship between the GR content in PBMCs and cochlea in healthy guinea pigs.