Evaluating the expression of ubiquitin B gene in the brain of gestational diabetes mellitus rats

Some women experienced glucose intolerance during their pregnancy, which is known as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The mechanism that causes the condition remain unclear but certain studies claims that this is due to production of several hormones produced by placenta as GDM fades after delivery. Classically, glucose homeostasis and insulin are commonly associated with pancreas but recent studies showed that brain also involves in this metabolic system. Thus, this study intended to see another side of glucose mechanism, which involves the brain. Gene of polyubiquitin B (UBB) is evaluated in the brain to understand the involvement of the ubiquitin system in the glucose homeostasis. UBB is a component of the Ubiquitin (Ub) which tags the protein substrate. Ubiquitin system is crucial for turnover of protein and protection against neuronal injury. Thus, through this study, understanding of involvement of UBB that vital for Ub level regulation in the brain towards glucose homeostasis can be achieved. Animal model of GDM and normal are prepared and at 2151 day of gestation, the rats are sacrificed to collect their brain. The brain underwent RNA isolation and RT-PCR to evaluate UBB expression. The result showed that there is significant down regulation of UBB gene in GDM compared to normal rats. This condition may affect the Ubiquitin system in the brain region that leads to disruption in the normal metabolic mechanism including GDM.