qRT-PCR validation of select microarray candidates shows interplatform reproducibility.
| Microarray | qPCR | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gene symbol | Gene name | FC | p-value | FC |
| High in ipsilateral RGCs | ||||
| Gja1 | Gap junction protein, alpha 1 (connexin 43) | 17.60 | 0.001 | >500 |
| Klf4 | Kruppel–like factor 4 | 7.38 | 0.002 | 455 |
| Lhx2 | LIM homeobox protein 2 | 4.72 | 0.009 | 2.37 |
| Otx2 | Orthodenticle homolog 2 | 5.02 | 0.021 | 0.651 |
| Slc6a4 | Serotonin transporter (SERT) | 4.49 | 0.004 | 49.8 |
| Sox2 | SRY–box containing gene 2 | 7.47 | 0.029 | 3.81 |
| Sparc | Secreted acidic cysteine rich glycoprotein | 12.47 | 0.000 | 6.02 |
| Zfp36 | Zinc finger protein 36 | 8.28 | 0.002 | 31.2 |
| Zic1 | Zinc finger protein of the cerebellum 1 | 5.67 | 0.002 | 6.49 |
| Zic2 | Zinc finger protein of the cerebellum 2 | 5.78 | 0.016 | 64.7 |
| High in contralateral RGCs | ||||
| Sema3e | Semaphorin 3E | –2.20 | 0.003 | –2.52 |
| Tbx20 | T–box 20 | –2.15 | 0.001 | –42.5 |
Of these 11 genes, all but Otx2 (italicized) were enriched in the RGC subpopulation as seen by gene profiling, demonstrating interplatform reproducibility of the gene expression detection by microarray. Genes previously known to be differentially expressed in ipsilateral and contralateral RGCs are bolded (Zic2, SERT).