Rapid in situ hybridization using digoxigenin probe and microwave oven.

In situ hybridization has been developed with probes labelled with a non-radioactive nucleotide, especially digoxigenin-coupled nucleotides. These non-radioactive probes significantly reduce safety problems and experimentation time. In this paper, we have studied by in situ hybridization the messenger RNA (mRNA) of the neuropeptide pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), in the rat pituitary gland using digoxigenin labelled oligonucleotide and a microwave oven. Our protocol permitted us to visualize POMC mRNA in all cells of the intermediate lobe and a few corticotroph cells in the anterior lobe, as it has been already demonstrated and to complete the experiment in less than 24 hrs.