Early expression changes of key cerebellar genes including several PC-specific genes measured by quantitative RT-PCR.

<p><b>(A)</b> No significant changes in BAC-Q22 mice compared with wild-type at 16 and 45 weeks of age. <b>(B)</b> In BAC-Q72 mice, a small reduction of <i>Pcp2</i> mRNA levels is seen at 5 weeks, but significant reductions in three genes are only seen at 9 weeks. Reductions in expression of <i>Grm1</i> occur late (weeks 24 and 36). Of note, mRNA levels of mouse <i>Atxn2</i> remain unchanged throughout. Genes tested: human transgene (h<i>ATXN2</i>), mouse Ataxin-2 (m<i>Atxn2</i>), calbindin 28-kDa (<i>Calb1</i>), PC protein 2 (<i>Pcp2</i>), glutamate receptor ionotropic delta-2 (<i>Grid2</i>) and metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (<i>Grm1</i>). n: animal numbers for each genotype and age group are listed in brackets. Gene expression was normalized to beta-actin. Student’s two-tailed t-test compared expression in BAC transgenic mice with wild-type mice in each age group. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001. Error bars represent ± SD.