Whole-Mount In Situ Hybridization in Post-Implantation Staged Mouse Embryos

Kristen S. Barratt, Ruth M. Arkell

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    3 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Understanding RNA expression in space and time is a key initial step in dissecting gene function. The ability to visualize gene expression in whole-tissue or whole-specimen preparations, called in situ hybridization (ISH), was first developed 50 years ago. Two decades later, these protocols were adapted to establish robust methods for whole-mount ISH to murine embryos. The precise protocols vary somewhat between early-gestation and mid-gestation mouse embryos; the protocol presented here is optimal for use with post-implantation stage mouse embryos (stages 5.5-9.5 dpc). Routine uses of whole-mount ISH include documenting the wild-type expression pattern of individual genes and comparison of the expression pattern of signature genes (i.e., those that identify particular cells and tissues within an embryo) between wild-type and mutant embryos as part of a phenotyping experiment. This technique remains a mainstay of developmental biology studies and complements the massively parallel assessment of gene expression from dissociated tissues and cells via RNA-sequencing techniques.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)e75
    JournalCurrent protocols in mouse biology
    Volume10
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2020

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Whole-Mount In Situ Hybridization in Post-Implantation Staged Mouse Embryos'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this