The Related Genes and Possible Signal Transduction Paths in the Pathological Changes of the Thoracic Aortae of the Hypertensive Rats Induced by Exposure to Lead (Pb2+)
铅（Pb^2＋）致高血压大鼠胸主动脉病变的相关基因及信号转导途径

The related genes and the possible signal transduction paths of the pathological changes of the thoracic aortae of the hypertensive rats induced by long-term exposure to lead(Pb2 )were studied with cDNA microarray. Compared with the control group, the Pb2 exposed group has, out of the 3463 genes and ESTs investigated, 25 genes and ESTs up-regulated and 3 down-regulated to at least 2 fold(significantly altered genes),among which 13 up-regulated genes were involved in the following biological processes: cell apoptosis, local adhesion, cell growth, proliferation and migration, smooth muscle stimulation, collagen reconstruction; and 2 down-regulated genes were involved in energy metabolism. The significantly altered genes were relatively concentrated on the signal transduction path of local adhesion.