DUAL IMMUNODETECTION AND HYBRIDIZATION IN-SITU OF OPSIN MESSENGER-RNAAND RHODOPSIN PROTEIN IN RETINAL SECTIONS

We describe a simple method for combining in situ hybridisation and im munohistochemistry on the same retinal section. The technique was deve loped using a radiolabelled cDNA probe for opsin and an antibody (ROS1 F4) against rhodopsin. This method retains the antigenic sites if immu nocytochemistry is performed prior to in situ hybridisation. Opsin mRN A was found in the photoreceptor inner segment with rhodopsin immunolo calised to the photoreceptor outer segments. The technique should be a pplicable to numerous situations including analysis of the sequence of events in the expression and synthesis of the various opsins during r etinal development and degeneration.