A SIMPLE METHOD OF HYBRIDOHISTOCHEMISTRY FOR DETECTION OF RENIN MESSENGER-RNA IN THE MOUSE KIDNEY

Hybridohistochemistry was applied for the detection of renin mRNA in t he mouse kidney with a digoxigenin-labeled probe, synthesized as the s ense and antisense RNAs from Ren-1 cDNA in the presence of digoxigenin -dUTP. Renin mRNA was detected in the juxtaglomerular cells located in the vicinity of the glomerular vascular poles of the kidney using the digoxigenin-labeled antisense RNA as a probe. Using the sense RNA as a probe, no signal was detected anywhere. In neighboring serial sectio ns, the same cells reacted immunohistochemically to rabbit anti-mouse submandibular gland renin serum as in hybridohistochemistry. As we use d the probe labeled with digoxigenin as a non-radioisotopic marker, th ere was no need for special handling other than that in immunohistoche mistry. It was concluded that the simple procedure given in the presen t study is useful for the detection of mRNA.