Optimization of microarray technology-based expression profiling for investigation of different animal models of pulmonary hypertension

Differential gene expression can be investigated effectively by microarrays. Therefore, the respective technical steps and parameters, in particular RNA extraction, cDNA labelling, hybridization and washing for low-fluorescence background on slides have to be optimized. Comparing different RNA extraction techniques, we found that TrifastTM method followed by column purification combined with DNase digestion resulted in highest RNA quality of the samples.