Transcriptome analysis of amoeboid and ramified microglia isolated from the corpus callosum of rat brain

To address this, we carried out cDNA microarray analysis using lectin-labeled AMC and RMC isolated from frozen tissue sections of the corpus callosum of 5-day and 4-week old rat brain respectively, by laser capture microdissection. The global gene expression profiles of both microglial phenotypes were compared and the differentially expressed genes in AMC and RMC were clustered based on their functional annotations. This genome wide comparative analysis identified genes that are specific to AMC and RMC.The novel and specific molecules identified from the trancriptome explains the quiescent state functioning of microglia in its two distinct morphological states.