In situ hybridization demonstrates the stability of mRNA in post-mortem rat tissues.
In situ hybridization was used to detect messenger RNA (mRNA) in a variety of rat tissues which were fixed in formalin either immediately after death or after a 24 h period of storage at 5 degrees C. A synthetic polydeoxythymidine [poly d(T)] oligonucleotide probe was used to demonstrate polyadenylated [poly (A)] mRNA in the small intestine, pancreas, liver, cerebellum, and pituitary. Of these tissues, only the liver showed a small reproducible reduction in hybridization signal following delayed fixation. Synthetic oligonucleotide probes complementary to albumin and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNAs were hybridized to liver and pituitary, respectively. There was no significant reduction in hybridization signal in post-mortem tissues. The results suggest that some mRNAs may be remarkably stable under certain post-mortem conditions and this should encourage the wider application of in situ hybridization techniques to post-mortem material.
University Department of Pathology, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, U.K.
E
E
Walker
A M
AM
McNicol
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D015341:Nucleic Acid Probes; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D011061:Poly A / Q000378:metabolism*; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
D015341:Nucleic Acid Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011061:Poly A