Skip to main content
Log in

In situ hybridization with digoxigenin-labeled probes: sensitive and reliable detection method applied to myelinating rat brain

  • Regular Papers
  • Published:
Acta Neuropathologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A method for in situ hybridization of digoxigenin-labeled cDNA and cRNA probes to myelin protein mRNA is described. This technique has dual advantages of high structural resolution and high sensitivity and avoids problems associated with handling of radioactive materials. Furthermore, it can be readily combined in double labeling with immunocytochemical protein detection. We have used this technique to detect and locate mRNA for myelin basic protein (MBP), proteolipid protein (PLP), 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) in oligodendrocytes of 7-day-old and adult rat brains. PLP and MAG mRNA were restricted to the perinuclear cytoplasm, whereas MBP and CNPase mRNA was additionally present in peripheral oligodendrocyte processes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Adams JC (1981) Heavy metal intensification of DAB-based HRP reaction product. J Histochem Cytochem 29:775

    Google Scholar 

  2. Angerer LM, Angerer RC (1991) Localization of mRNAs by in situ hybridization. Methods Cell Biol 35:37–71

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bernier L, Alvarez F, Norgard EM, Raible DW, Mentaberry A, Schembri JG, Sabatini DD, Colman DR (1987) Molecular cloning of a 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase: mRNAs with different 5′ ends encode the same set of proteins in nervous and lymphoid tissues. J Neurosci 7:2703–2710

    Google Scholar 

  4. Brahic M, Haase AT (1978) Detection of viral sequences of low reiteration frequency by in situ hybridization. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 75:6125–6129

    Google Scholar 

  5. Brahic M, Haase AT, Cash E (1984) Simultaneous in situ detection of viral RNA and antigens. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 81:5445–5448

    Google Scholar 

  6. Brunner C, Lassmann H, Waehneldt TV, Matthieu JM, Linington C (1989) Differential ultrastructural localization of myelin basic protein, myelin oligodendroglia glycoprotein and 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase in the CNS of adult rats. J Neurochem 52:296–304

    Google Scholar 

  7. Chesselet MF (1990) In situ hybridization histochemistry. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  8. Coleman DR, Kreibich G, Frey AB, Sabatini DD (1982) Synthesis and incorporation of myelin polypeptides into CNS myelin. J Cell Biol 95:598–608

    Google Scholar 

  9. Conn PM (1989) Gene probes. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 79–293

    Google Scholar 

  10. Fleming KA, Evans M, Ryley CK, Franklin D, Lovell-Badge RH, Morey AL (1992) Optimization of non-isotopic in situ hybridization on formalin fixed paraffin embedded material using digoxygenin labelled probes and transgenic tissues. J Pathol 167:9–19

    Google Scholar 

  11. Gall JG, Pardue ML (1969) Formation and detection of RNA-DNA hybrid molecules in cytological preparations. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 63:378–383

    Google Scholar 

  12. Giaid A, Hamid Q, Adams C, Springall DR, Terenghi G, Polak JM (1989) Non-isotopic RNA probes. Comparison between different labels and detection systems. Histochemistry 93:191–196

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gillespie CS, Bernier L, Bruphy P, Colman DR (1990) Biosynthesis of the myelin 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase. J Neurochem 54:656–661

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hayashi S, Gillam IC, Delaney AD, Tener GM (1978) Acetylation of chromosome squashes of drosophila melanogaster decreases the background in autoradiographs from hybridization with 125I-labeled RNA. J Histochem Cytochem 26:677–679

    Google Scholar 

  15. Jordan C, Friedrich V Jr, Dubois Dalcq ME (1989) In situ hybridization analysis of myelin gene transcription in developing mouse spinal cord. J Neurosci 9:248–257

    Google Scholar 

  16. Karin NJ, Waehneldt TV (1985) Biosynthesis of Wolfgram protein into optic nerve membranes. Neurochem Res 10:897–907

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kidd GJ, Hauer PE, Trapp BD (1990) Axons modulate myelin protein messenger RNA levels during central nervous system myelination in vivo. J Neurosci Res 26:409–418

    Google Scholar 

  18. Lawrence JB, Singer RH (1985) Quantitative analysis of in situ hybridization methods for the detection of actin gene expression. Nucleic Acids Res 13:1777–1799

    Google Scholar 

  19. Martinez-Montero JC, Herrington CS, Stickland J, Sawyer H, Evans M, Flannery DMJ, McGee JO'D (1991) Model system for optimizing mRNA non-isotopic in situ hybridization: riboprobe detection of lysozyme mRNA in archival gut biopsy specimens. J Clin Pathol 44:835–839

    Google Scholar 

  20. Mentaberri A, Adesnik M, Atchinson M, Norgard EM, Alvarez F, Sabatini DD, Colman DR (1986) Small basic proteins of myelin from central and peripheral nervous systems are encoded by the same gene. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83:1111–1114

    Google Scholar 

  21. Milner RJ, Lai C, Nave KA, Lenoir D, Ogata J, Sutcliffe JG (1985) Nucleotide sequences of two mRNAs for rat brain myelin proteolipid protein. Cell 42:931–939

    Google Scholar 

  22. Multhaupt H, Gross G, Fritz P, Köhler K (1989) Cellular localization of induced human interferon-β mRNA by nonradioactive in situ hybridization. Histochemistry 91:315–319

    Google Scholar 

  23. Ogilvie AD, Wood NC, Dickens E, Wojtacha D, Duff GW (1990) In situ hybridization. Ann Rheum Dis 49:434–439

    Google Scholar 

  24. Pardue ML (1985) In situ hybridization. In: BD Hames, Higgins SJ (eds) Nucleic acid hybridization, a practical approach. IRI Press, Oxford, pp 179–202

    Google Scholar 

  25. Polak JM, McGee JO'D (1990) In situ hybridization. Principles and practice. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  26. Remahl S, Hildebrand C (1990) Relation between axons and oligodendroglial cells during initial myelination. I. The glial unit. J Neurocytol 19:313–328

    Google Scholar 

  27. Salzer JL, Holmes WP, Colman DR (1987) The amino acid sequences of the myelin associated glycoproteins: homology to the immunoglobulin gene superfamily. J Cell Biol 104:957–965

    Google Scholar 

  28. Sambrook J, Fritsch EF, Maniatis T (1989) Molecular cloning, 2nd edn. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Habor

    Google Scholar 

  29. Schmechel DE, Marangos PJ, Martin BM, Winfield S, Burkhart DS, Roses AD, Ginns ET (1987) Localization of neuronespecific enolase (NSE) mRNA in human brain. Neurosci Lett 76:233–238

    Google Scholar 

  30. Shivers BD, Harlan RE, Pfaff DW, Schachter BS (1986) Combination of immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization in the same tissue section of rat pituitary. J Histochem Cytochem 34:39–43

    Google Scholar 

  31. Singer R, Lawrence JB, Villnave C (1986) Optimisation of in situ hybridization using isotopic and non-isotopic detection methods. Biotechnology 4:230–250

    Google Scholar 

  32. Trapp BD, Bernier L, Andrews SB, Colman DR (1988) Cellular and subcellular distribution of 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase and its mRNA in the rat central nervous system. J Neurochem 51:859–868

    Google Scholar 

  33. Trapp BD, Moench T, Pulley M, Barbosa E, Tennekoon G, Griffin J (1987) Spatial segregation of mRNA encoding myelin specific proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 84:7773–7777

    Google Scholar 

  34. Valentino KL, Eberwine JH, Brachas JD (1987) In situ hybridization. Applications to neurobiology. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  35. Vass K (1989) Induction of stress protein HSP 70 in nerve cells after status epilepticus in the rat. Neurosci Lett 100:259–264

    Google Scholar 

  36. Verity AN, Campagnoni AT (1988) Regional expression of myelin protein genes in the developing mouse brain: in situ hybridization studies. J Neurosci Res 21:238–248

    Google Scholar 

  37. Vogel US, Reynolds R, Thompson RJ, Wilkin GP (1988) Expression of 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase gene and immunoreactive protein in oligodendrocytes as revealed by in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence. Glia 1:184–190

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Supported by the Science Research Fund, Austria, P 7740M

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Breitschopf, H., Suchanek, G., Gould, R.M. et al. In situ hybridization with digoxigenin-labeled probes: sensitive and reliable detection method applied to myelinating rat brain. Acta Neuropathol 84, 581–587 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00227734

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00227734

Key words

Navigation