Description
Inbred mouse strains C57BL/6J (B6) and C3H/HeJ (C3H) exhibit a marked difference in their susceptibility to atherosclerosis and the arterial wall has proven to be a source of the difference in atherosclerosis susceptibility. Genome-wide gene expression analysis was conducted in aortic walls of the two strains. Total RNA was extracted from aortas of 6-week-old female B6 and C3H apoE-deficient (apoE-/-) mice fed a chow or Western diet. 1514 genes in chow fed mice and 590 genes in Western fed mice were found to be differentially expressed between the two strains. RNA was extracted from aorta using a Trizol protocol. Total RNA was pooled in an equal amount from 4 mice for each group. Standard Affymetrix procedures were performed using 8ug of total RNA.