In situ detection of progesterone receptor mRNA in the chicken oviduct using probe-on slides

A relatively simple, rapid and versatile method for in situ hybridization of mRNA involving the use of probe-on slides is outlined. Chicken progesterone receptor transcripts have been localized in situ in the chick oviduct by using specific hybridization probes. The accumulation of relatively large quantities of progesterone receptor transcripts occurs in diethylstilbestrol (DES)-treated chickens. A uniformly 35S-labeled oligodeoxyribonucleotide probe was incubated with paraffin-embedded sections. Hybridization to the mRNA was found as discrete deposits of silver granules in the glandular and epithelial cells. The ability to tag low amounts of mRNA in the cell by this relatively easy but sensitive protocol allows efficient molecular analysis of developmental expression of a given gene. Probe-on slides should prove useful in any kind of in situ hybridization protocol using frozen sections, paraffin sections or tissue culture cells.