Isolating total RNA from mouse embryos or fetal tissues

INTRODUCTIONThis RNA isolation procedure is suitable for tissue of almost any size, and is particularly useful for fetal organs or whole embryos from mice, as it can be performed in volumes as small as 0.5 mL. The minimum amount of tissue used should be ten 7.5-dpc (days post-coitum) embryos, one or two 8.5-dpc embryos, or approximately one-tenth of a 12.5-dpc embryo. If smaller amounts of tissue are homogenized in a 0.5-mL volume, the recovery of RNA may be less efficient.