ISSN:
1573-6830
Keywords:
human striatum
;
human hypothalamus
;
neuropeptides
;
in situ hybridization
;
oligonucleotides
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary 1. The application ofin situ hybridization histochemistry to the study of neuropeptide gene expression in human brain postmortem tissues is reviewed. We focus on neuropeptides preferentially expressed in hypothalamus and basal ganglia.32P-labeled oligonucleotides were used as hybridization probes. 2. Autoradiography combined with computerized image analysis was used to visualize and quantify the hybridization signal. 3. Several criteria were considered in order to ascertain the specificity of the signal, including Northern analysis, use of heterologous probes, competition assays, and thermal stability of the hybrids. 4. In control human striatum high levels of hybridization signal were observed for somatostatin, neuropeptide Y, and preproenkephalin A mRNAs. In contrast, no detectable signal was observed with the cholecystokinin, arginine-vasopressin, and oxytocin probes in this area. In the hypothalamus high levels of oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin mRNAs were visualized in several nuclei. Preproenkephalin A and somatostatin mRNAs were also observed in this region, while cholecystokinin mRNA was not detected. 5. No significant correlations were found between the density of the hybridization signal and parameters such as postmortem delay, age, and gender in the propulation studied. 6. Finally, alterations of mRNA levels for some of these peptides were found in Parkinson's disease and Huntington's chorea striatal tissues. 7. These results show thatin situ hybridization histochemistry can be used to examine at the microscopic level neuropeptide gene expression in postmortem materials.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00733639
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