Detection of prolactin messenger RNA in rat anterior pituitary by in situ hybridization.

The effects of chronic diethylstilbestrol treatment on rat prolactin mRNA was analyzed by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Forty-day-old female rats were treated with 10 mg diethylstilbestrol in Silastic tubes for 3, 6, and 9 weeks. Estrogen treatment for 9 weeks increased pituitary wet weight (51.6 +/- 2.4 versus 7.9 +/- 0.31 mg for controls), serum prolactin (4155 +/- 571 versus 47.1 +/- 8.9 ng/ml for controls), and the percentage of immunoreactive prolactin cells (69% +/- 3% versus 34% +/- 2% for controls). In situ hybridization studies showed an increase in rat prolactin mRNA with increasing duration of estrogen treatment. After 9 weeks of estrogen treatment, there was a 2.3-fold increase in rat prolactin mRNA. 3H-cDNA was distributed diffusely throughout the anterior pituitary in both normal and hyperplastic pituitaries. There were no separate foci of adenomatous pituitary with increased labeling or with increased immunoreactive PRL cells. Although transplantable pituitary MtT/W15 tumors secreted very large amounts of PRL, compared with pituitaries from DES-treated rats, rat prolactin mRNA as evaluated by mean grain counts was considerably less in the MtT/W15 tumor than in DES-treated pituitary cells. These results show that in situ hybridization histochemistry can be used to detect changes in rat prolactin mRNA in tissue sections from the anterior pituitary with chronic estrogen treatment and that these pituitaries show a diffuse increase in immunoreactive prolactin cells and cellular prolactin mRNA, rather than distinct adenomatous areas within the glands.     

Detection of vasopressin messenger RNA in cells within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis by in situ hybridization histochemistry

In situ hybridization histochemistry and quantitative autoradiography were used to confirm the presence of cells within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) which express the vasopressin (VP) gene and to assess the biosynthetic capacity of these cells throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the nucleus. Brain sections from adult male Wistar rats were hybridized with a 35S-labeled 48-base oligonucleotide probe. Clusters of grains were present over cells in the BNST. Cells were parvocellular in appearance and signal over cells was determined to be specific since it was abolished by RNase pretreatment or incubation with 100-fold excess unlabeled probe. The distribution of VP-mRNA containing cells in the BNST corresponds closely to that previously reported by immunocytochemistry. No clear-cut rostral to caudal gradient was found for gene expression as measured by grains/cell. In situ hybridization techniques can provide a powerful tool to study the regulation of central VP pathways in the BNST.     

Detection of rhinovirus RNA in nasal epithelial cells by in situ hybridization

This paper describes the development and evaluation of in situ hybridization (ISH) for the detection of rhinovirus in cells obtained from nasal washings of volunteers infected with human rhinovirus 14 (HRV-14). Twenty-five (66%) and 27 (71%) of 38 volunteers inoculated with HRV-14 had evidence of infection by virus isolation and ISH, respectively, on at least one of 4 days investigated after virus challenge. In contrast, only 14 of 38 (37%) volunteers had significant antibody rises as detected by the neutralization test. Of the 38 volunteers inoculated with HRV-14, only 13 (34%) had symptoms of colds. Of these, 12 (92%) and 10 (77%) were positive by virus isolation or ISH, respectively, on at least one day. Six (46%) had significant antibody rises by neutralization. Similarly, of the 38 volunteers challenged, 22 (58%) were asymptomatic and of these 10 (45.5%) and 12 (54.5%) were positive by virus isolation and ISH, respectively, on at least one day. Only 8 (36.4%) of these asymptomatic volunteers showed significant antibody rises by neutralization. There were significant associations between the detection of rhinoviruses by ISH and virus isolation on the third day (P less than 0.025) after virus challenge in the group as a whole and in the symptomatic group. These results show that generally rhinovirus detection by ISH compares well with virus isolation and both tests are clearly more sensitive than the neutralization test in detecting evidence of infection. It is concluded that ISH is an interesting new technique that may play an important role in the study of rhinovirus infection and pathogenesis.     

Carbonic anhydrase-II messenger RNA in neurons and glia of chick brain: mapping by in situ hybridization

The enzyme carbonic anhydrase is widespread in brain tissue. In rodent brains it has been reported to be exclusively in oligodendroglia but there has been some debate about the generality of this finding. To investigate the cellular distribution of carbonic anhydrase by an independent technique, we have examined the chick brain by in situ hybridization to detect mRNA from the carbonic anhydrase-II gene, using as controls the actin and vimentin genes. The most intense carbonic anhydrase-II hybridization is to the choroid plexus, to the Bergmann glia of the cerebellum, and to the Müller cells in the retina. Elsewhere, some brain regions are negative while others show many individual strongly positive cells; carbonic anhydrase-II mRNA is particularly abundant in some parts of the hyperstriatum, tectum and thalamus. Some of the larger labelled cells are identifiable as neurons. By histochemistry, we confirm the presence of the carbonic anhydrase enzyme in choroid plexus and Bergmann glia, but the enzyme is also present in blood vessel walls where there is no carbonic anhydrase-II mRNA; this may be a different isozyme. During embryogenesis, carbonic anhydrase-II mRNA appears in the retina as early as two days of incubation, but does not appear in the brain until much later.     

Localization of CEA messenger RNA by in situ hybridization in normal colonic mucosa and colorectal adenocarcinomas.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) mRNA expression was studied in 14 cases of normal colorectal mucosa and colonic adenocarcinomas using in situ hybridization with a 32P-labelled cDNA probe to the unique 3'-untranslated region of CEA. This approach has the advantage that the target mRNA remains in the cell of origin, whereas there is considerable ambiguity in immunocytochemistry data for CEA because the protein is secreted. Furthermore, the specific cDNA probe overcomes potential problems of immunological cross-reactivity with other members of the CEA family. The results demonstrated that abundant, heterogeneously distributed CEA mRNA was present in colorectal adenocarcinomas, with the highest levels in cells lining glandular structures. Parallel immunohistochemistry with anti-CEA monoclonal antibody A5B7 showed that the regions of tumours with the highest levels of CEA mRNA also had the highest CEA protein levels, suggesting that the heterogeneous distribution reflects CEA expression rather than differential secretion of the protein. In the normal colonic mucosa, CEA mRNA expression was observed in surface epithelial cells and goblet cells of the upper crypts, with very low hybridization in the mid crypt and at the base. This crypt-surface distribution was identical to that observed for CEA protein. In situ hybridization therefore confirms that high levels of CEA mRNA are expressed in differentiated surface epithelial cells of the normal colon.     

原位杂交法检测肝组织中丁型和乙型肝炎病毒核酸

利用国外引进的重组质粒获得纯化基因片段，分别以随机引物法和ＰＣＲ法制备地高辛素标记的ＨＢＶＤＮＡ探针和ＨＤＶｃＤＮＡ探针。用原位杂交法检测了石蜡包埋的肝组织切片ＢＶＤＮＡ和ＨＤＶＲＮＡ。４９例感染肝组织分为两组：丁肝组２３例；单纯乙肝组２６例，ＨＢＶＤＮＡ的检出率丁肝组（７８．２６％）与乙肝组（７６．９２％）无统计学差异；而ＨＤＶＮＡ的检出率丁肝组（６０．８７％）明显高于乙肝组（１５．３８％）。ＨＢＶＤＮＡ可见于受染肝细胞的胞核或胞浆内，而ＨＤＶＲＮＡ绝大部分见于肝细胞胞核。两种病毒核酸阳性细胞在肝组织中的分布特点大致相同：弥漫或散在地分布于肝小叶或假小叶内，或局灶性分布于小叶周边。ＨＤＶＲＮＡ阳性的肝组织都或多或少地同时存在ＨＢＶＤＮＡ。同一例肝组织中，ＨＢＶＤＮＡ阳性细胞从数量和颗粒密度上似略高于ＨＤＶＲＮＡ。将乙肝组和丁肝组两组病人肝内ＨＢ－ｓＡｇ、ＨＢｃＡｇ和ＨＢＶＤＮＡ及血清ＨＢｅＡｇ作了比较，各指标阳性率虽有差异，但均无统计学意义。因此，未发现ＨＤＶ感染对ＨＢＶ的复制有明显抑制作用。此结果对以往用血清学或免疫组化方法对ＨＤＶ的研究有所补充和深入，亦可为研究其它类型病毒性肝炎之间的重叠感染所借鉴。     

Detection of inflammatory cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA)-expressing cells in human inflamed gingiva by combined in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.

Cells expressing messenger RNA (mRNA) for inflammatory cytokines [interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6, IL-8] were demonstrated by in situ hybridization in human inflamed gingiva. When this technique was used in conjunction with immunohistochemistry, IL-1 alpha and/or beta and IL-8 messages were observed predominantly on macrophages infiltrating the gingiva. TNF-alpha messages were abundant on macrophages and T cells. In contrast, the IL-6 mRNA were more widely distributed on many types of cells such as macrophages, T cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and B cells. This study clearly identified the cells which express mRNA for inflammatory cytokines in inflamed gingiva and suggested an involvement of cytokine network in the generation of human periodontitis.     

寡核苷酸探针RNA原位杂交法检测肺孢子虫的研究

目的探讨RNA原位杂交法在肺孢子虫病理检测中的应用。方法采用小亚单位RNA位点来源的寡核苷酸探针、地高辛加尾标记、Wistar雌性大鼠皮下注射地塞米松建立肺孢子虫肺炎动物模型,取肺组织制备石蜡标本进行RNA原位杂交,并将结果与瑞氏-吉姆萨染色法进行比较。结果 RNA原位杂交法于感染后第3周检到虫体,呈游离分布;7～8周时检测到大量包囊;9～10周时滋养体大量出现;组织内肺孢子虫的检出率（32/32）高于瑞氏-吉姆萨染色法（25/32）。结论 RNA原位杂交法是一种敏感特异的肺孢子虫病理检测方法。     

Production of secretory diarrhea by intravenous infusion of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide

We attempted to reproduce the diarrhea of pancreatic cholera syndrome with prolonged (10-hour) administration of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in five healthy nonfasting subjects. The polypeptide was given as a continuous intravenous infusion at a rate of 400 pmol per kilogram of body weight per hour. By two hours the plasma VIP concentration had risen from a normal basal value of 15.3 +/- 0.2 (mean +/- S.E.M.) to 129 +/- 40 pmol per liter--within the range found in patients with pancreatic cholera syndrome. In each subject profuse watery diarrhea developed within 4.3 +/- 0.8 hours (range, 2.0 to 6.3), and the mean stool weight at 10 hours was 2441 +/- 600 g (normal 24-hour stool weight, less than 200 to 250 g). The results of stool analysis were consistent with secretory diarrhea. Between the first and last stool, there were significant increases in fecal sodium and bicarbonate concentrations and in pH. The large fecal bicarbonate loss induced hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, which is characteristic in patients with pancreatic cholera syndrome. Our study suggests that VIP is not merely a marker of pancreatic cholera, but is the mediator of watery diarrhea in this syndrome.     

LHRH messenger RNA in neurons in the intact and castrate male rat forebrain,studied by in situ hybridization

Summary The slow potential change (spc) accompanying spreading depression (SD) was studied in rats and in a seizure-sensitive strain of Mongolian gerbil under three different experimental paradigms, each involving the use of naloxone. Gerbils undergoing electroconvulsive shock treatment displayed SD during the post-ictal phase, which was blocked by the intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of naloxone (20–50 mg kg^-1). Topical application of naloxone to the exposed cortex of the anaesthetized gerbil and rat blocked the spc of SD evoked by KCl. Microiontophoretic ejection of naloxone during extracellular recordings reversed cell refractoriness following the spc, demonstrated by the observation of a maintained sensitivity to iontophoretic pulses of glutamate. The results suggest a possible involvement of naloxone-sensitive processes in the mechanism responsible for cortical SD.     

Detection of rhinovirus RNA in middle turbinate of patients with common colds by in situ hybridization

Human rhinovirus 14 RNA was determined by in situ hybridization from middle turbinate biopsies in 32 patients with diagnosed common colds and in five control individuals. Twenty-two (69%) biopsies from common colds patients but none of the five control biopsies showed reactivity for human rhinovirus 14 antisense probe. The signal was detected both in the respiratory epithelium and in mucosal inflammatory cells. In situ hybridization of the middle turbinate tissue yielded more positive results than RT-PCR (47%) or virus culture (34%) assayed from nasopharyngeal aspirates, but no statistical significant differences were observed (P = 0.265, P = 0.425, respectively). The results indicated that in situ hybridization procedure was slightly more sensitive than PCR assays and classical culture for the detection of human rhinovirus infection of upper respiratory tract. However, in situ hybridization procedure appeared to be an interesting methodology to investigate the physiopathology of respiratory tract infection by rhinoviruses.     

Molecular cloning, expression and in situ hybridization of rat brain glutamic acid decarboxylase messenger RNA

A cDNA library was generated in the expression vector lambda GT11 from rat brain poly(A)+ RNAs and screened with a GAD antiserum. Two clones reacted positively. One of them was shown to express a GAD activity which was specifically trapped on anti-GAD immunogel and was inhibited by gamma-acetylenic-GABA. Blot hybridization analysis of RNAs from rat brain revealed a single 4 kilobases band. Preliminary in situ hybridizations showed numerous cells labelled by the GAD probe such as the Purkinje and stellate cells in the cerebellar cortex and the cells of the reticular thalamic nucleus.     

Down-regulation of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide receptor expression in atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND: Receptors for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) have recently been suggested to play a key role in immunomodulation with genetically modified mice. However, it is not known whether changes in receptor gene regulation are involved in the pathogenesis of human immune disorders. OBJECTIVE: We studied the expression of VPAC(2) in acute lesions of the human immune disease atopic dermatitis. METHODS: By using nonradioactive in situ hybridization, quantitative immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and gene array studies, the expression status of VPAC(2) was assessed in atopic dermatitis and control tissues and in the human mast cell line HMC-1. RESULTS: In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry demonstrated VPAC(2) mRNA and protein expression in human mast cells surrounded by VIP positive nerve fibers. Gene array experiments and RT-PCR studies showed high levels of VPAC(2) mRNA expression in mast cells that were increased compared to other receptors such as VPAC(1) or VIP in the human mast cell line HMC-1. Stimulation of HMC-1 cells led to a downregulation of VPAC(2). Similarly, quantitative immunohistochemistry for VPAC(2) in acute atopic dermatitis lesions showed a significantly decreased VPAC(2) immunoreactivity in mast cells. CONCLUSION: The downregulation of VPAC(2) in human mast cells in acute lesions of atopic dermatitis suggests a role of this G-protein;coupled receptor in the pathophysiology of the disease.     

Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae by colorimetric in situ hybridization

Chlamydia pneumoniae causes chronic infections, which have been associated with cardiovascular diseases. The antigenic structures of the organism have been detected in atherosclerotic lesions by immunohistochemistry. We wanted to further evaluate the presence and localization of C. pneumoniae in different tissues by in situ hybridization. We established a new colorimetric in situ hybridization method using a digoxigenin-labelled probe and studied the localization of C. pneumoniae in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lungs of infected mice. We also used the method to study its presence in 12 abdominal aortic aneurysms. In C. pneumoniae-infected mice, the organism was first detected in bronchial epithelial cells, and later in pneumocytes and endothelial cells. C. pneumoniae was also present in five of eight abdominal aortic aneurysms previously shown to be positive by immunohistochemistry. The findings are in accordance with the invasive nature of C. pneumoniae, and confirm its presence in abdominal aortic aneurysms.     

生物素标记探针原位杂交法检测细胞中c-myc基因的表达

本文采用生物素标记的c-mye基因作探针，通过细胞原位分子杂交技术，对人舌癌、膀胱癌和正常细胞中c-myc基因的转录量进行了定性和半定量分析。结果表明与正常细胞相比，舌癌和膀胱癌细胞中c-myc基因异常高度表达。     

Detection of variation in the ribosomal RNA gene clusters by a modified fluorescencein situ hybridization method

Summary Physical mapping of genes by fluorescencein situ hybridization (FISH) has become routine using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) for probe detection and propidium iodide (PI) for chromosome staining. We have modified this conventional FISH method in a way that utilizes Texas red (TR) for signal detection and quinacrine mustard (QM) for chromosome banding. Using this Texas red and quinacrine (TRQ) method, we were able to identify individual acrocentric chromosomes with varying degrees of ribosomal RNA gene clusters. Two acrocentric chromosomes were found to carry extremely small number of rRNA gene copies as compared to the other eight counterparts in human diploid lymphoblastoid cell line GM00130B. Thus, the TRQ method allows one to probe for a specific sequence while identifying individual chromosomes and will be powerful for the chromosomal localization of various genes.