title: Simultaneous visualization of two cellular mRNA species in individual neurons by use of a new double in Situ hybridization method.
abstract: We present a new method for the simultaneous detection of two mRNA species within individual neurons. The technique involves the use of radio-labeled and digoxigenin-labeled cRNA probes, the application of which confers a high specificity and sensitivity to the in situ hybridization analysis. We demonstrate the use of this method by illustrating the coexpression of preprogonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) mRNA and preprogalanin mRNA in neurons in the rat forebrain and report a distinct sexual dimorphism in galanin gene expression by GnRH neurons. Coupling this technology with semi-quantitative analysis of the mRNA species hybridized with the isotopically labeled mRNA would permit studies of gene regulation in individual cells among the heterogeneous populations of the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Wiemann
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lent
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Clifton
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Steiner