Detection of RNA in the central and peripheral nervous system using the RNAscope® in situ hybridization assay

Neuroscience is one of the fastest growing interdisciplinary research fields that studies the central (CNS) and peripheral nervous system from the molecular and cellular levels to the systems level. Areas of research include neural development, structural and functional organization of the nervous system, cognitive and behavioral neurosciences, and clinical neurosciences including neurodegenerative diseases. The RNAscope® in situ hybridization (ISH) assay provides a powerful method to detect gene expression within the spatial and morphological tissue context. The proprietary “double Z” probe design in combination with the advanced signal amplification enables a highly specific and sensitive detection of the target RNA with each dot visualizing a single RNA transcript. Therefore, this robust signal-to-noise technology allows for the detection of gene transcripts at single molecule level with single-cell resolution analysis and can further expand our understanding of gene expression in cell lines and tissues samples. The multiplexing capabilities of both the chromogenic and fluorescent RNAscope® assays facilitate the simultaneous visualization of multiple targets in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and fresh/fixed frozen samples, enabling consistent characterization of cell populations within the nervous system. In summary, the RNAscope® technology allows the visualization and quantification of virtually any gene from any genome in any tissue with unprecedented specificity and sensitivity.