IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION UTILIZING A Y-CHROMOSOME DNA-PROBE - USE AS A CELL MARKER FOR HEPATOCELLULAR TRANSPLANTATION

Research in hepatocellular gene therapy requires a consistently reprod ucible cell marker to detect transplanted hepatocytes. We have used a Y-specific genomic DNA probe to accomplish this goal. This technique e nables the identification of transplanted male cells in recipient fema le tissues. Donor hepatocytes from male mice were transplanted into fe male mice via splenic injection. Recipient mouse livers were harvested 1, 24, and 48 hr after transplant. Transplanted (male) hepatocytes we re detected in liver biopsy sections using in situ hybridization with the Y chromosome probe.