MicroRNAs (
miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs of 19-25
nucleotides in length that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Dysregulation of
miRNAs is associated with many disorders and
neurodegenerative diseases affecting numerous different pathways and processes, of which many have not yet been completely explored. Recent studies even indicate a crucial role of
miRNAs during brain development, with differential expression patterns of several
miRNAs seen in both developing and mature cells. A
miRNA profiling in brain tissue and the fundamental understanding of their effects might optimize the therapeutical treatment of various
neurological disorders. In this study, we performed
miRNA array analysis of enriched cerebellar Purkinje cell (PC) samples from both young and mature rat cerebella. We used
laser microdissection (LMD) to enrich PC for a highly specific
miRNA profiling. Altogether, we present the expression profile of at least 27
miRNAs expressed in rat cerebellar PC and disclose a different expression pattern of at least three of these
miRNAs during development. These
miRNAs are potential candidates for the regulation and control of cerebellar PC development, including neuritic and dendritic outgrowth as well as spine formation.