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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America logoLink to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
. 1987 Mar;84(6):1699–1703. doi: 10.1073/pnas.84.6.1699

Modulation of tyrosine hydroxylase gene expression in the central nervous system visualized by in situ hybridization.

A Berod, N F Biguet, S Dumas, B Bloch, J Mallet
PMCID: PMC304504  PMID: 2882513

Abstract

A rat tyrosine hydroxylase [TyrOHase; tyrosine 3-monooxygenase; L-tyrosine, tetrahydropteridine:oxygen oxidoreductase (3-hydroxylating); EC 1.14.16.2] cDNA probe was used for in situ hybridization studies on histological sections through the locus coeruleus, substantia nigra, and the ventral tegmental area of the rat brain. Experimental conditions were established that yielded no background and no signal when pBR322 was used as a control probe. Using the tyrosine hydroxylase probe, we ascertained the specificity of the labeling over catecholaminergic cells by denervation experiments and comparison of the hybridization pattern with that of immunoreactivity. The use of 35S-labeled probe enabled the hybridization signal to be resolved at the cellular level. A single injection of reserpine into the rat led to an increase of the intensity of the autoradiographic signal over the locus coeruleus area, confirming an RNA gel blot analysis. The potential of in situ hybridization to analyze patterns of modulation of gene activity as a result of nervous activity is discussed.

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Selected References

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