Amplification of mitochondrial DNA from archival temporal bone specimens

Archival temporal bone collections are an invaluable resource for studying the molecular genetics of many types of otopathology. The irreplaceable nature of temporal bone sections makes efficiency of DNA extraction of paramount importance. Several protocols are available for extracting DNA from fresh and preserved tissue. To establish the best protocol for reliably extracting DNA from celloidin-embedded temporal bone sections, a variety of DNA extraction techniques were tested. Using the optimum protocol, mitochondrial DNA fragments ranging in size from less than 100 base pairs to more than 400 base pairs were amplified, and the authenticity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products was confirmed through comparative sequence analysis.