Differential gene expression in CNS after scrapie infection 2

Sheep scrapie is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), which are invariably fatal neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). Accumulation of the misfolded prion protein, PrPSc in the CNS results in progressive neurodegenerative disease. Susceptible VRQ homozygous New Zealand Cheviot sheep were infected with SSBP/1 scrapie by inoculation in the drainage area of the prescapular lymph nodes. PrPSc was consistently detected by immunohistology in the CNS at 125 days post infection (dpi). This study compares the genes and physiological pathways that are affected by the progression of TSE disease in the CNS, focusing on time points immediately before (75dpi) and at the time point when PrPSc is consistently detected in the CNS (125 dpi).