Transcriptional profiling of mouse liver in response to chronic heat stress

Mice were used to study the effects of chronic heat stress on hepatic gene expression. Twenty-five mice were allocated to either chronic heat stress (34 degrees C) or control (24 degrees C) conditions for a period of 2 weeks from 47 to 60 d of age. Nineteen genes differentially expressed in liver were identified using DNA microarrays. Genes involved in the anti-oxidant pathway and metabolism were up-regulated. Genes involved in generation of reactive oxygen radicals and mitochondrial expressed genes were down-regulated. Enzyme activity measurements confirmed the array results. Mice exposed to chronic heat stress showed signs of increased oxidative stress in liver cells. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.