Meeting Abstract

P1.223  Wednesday, Jan. 4  Assessing gene expression profiles during seasonal thermoregulation in a hibernating primate, Cheirogaleus medius FAHERTY, S.L.*; YODER, A.D.; Duke University; Duke University sheena.faherty@duke.edu

In most species, obesity is considered detrimental to health, however in some hibernating mammals, the endogenous circannual cycle includes seasonal periods of obese and lean states. At present, a significant knowledge gap exists in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that allow hibernators to survive the physiological changes associated with hibernation, in particular, genes governing seasonal weight gain and loss. Real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) has become a widely used method to assess gene expression profiles in white adipose tissue (WAT). However, in order to remove nonspecific variation leading to quantification errors, normalization to stably expressed endogenous reference genes is crucial. There exists no prior context for endogenous reference genes in WAT of the hibernating primate, Cheirogaleus medius. In this study, we aim to identify and validate candidate reference genes suitable for gene expression studies using subcutaneous WAT from C. medius throughout the circannual cycle. This study provides the critical first step in gene expression studies investigating the coordinated and predictable changes in expression profiles during seasonal weight gain and loss in a hibernating primate.