Dm. O'Dell et al., Single-cell molecular biology - Implications for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disease, ARCH NEUROL, 56(12), 1999, pp. 1453-1456
The normal functioning of the central nervous system (CNS) requires complex
interactions among numerous biological components. The pathophysiology of
perturbations in this system is as complex as that of neurological disease.
Many methods exist to examine the biological output of dysfunctional cells
from a diseased system (eg, immunohistochemical analysis, electrophysiolog
y, and microdialysis), with one goal being to understand the mechanisms of
cell death. This understanding may allow the design of therapeutic strategi
es to prevent cell death and ensuing behavioral abnormalities. Analysis of
messenger RNA (mRNA) levels for various genes in CNS tissue may enhance und
erstanding of neurological disease, since cells differ in the complement an
d abundance of genes they express, One popular method for detecting changes
in gene expression is the Northern blot technique, in which total RNA from
a sample is extracted and the RNA molecules are separated by size on a den
aturing gel and transferred or "blotted" onto nylon membranes that are then
probed with radiolabeled DNA for subsequent autoradiograpic detection of g
ene expression.