Detection of RNA in the central and peripheral nervous system using the RNAscope® in situ hybridization assay Application of RNAscope® and BaseScope™ in Neuroscience Research

The nervous system consists of numerous specialized cell types that remain to fully cataloged and
characterized at the molecular level. Due to the high degree of structural and functional
heterogeneity and the intricate spatial organization of these cells, it is of special importance to
analyze gene expression in the presence of full morphological and spatial contexts. Due to the lack
of specific antibody reagents, especially for lncRNAs, G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), and ion
channels, mapping of specific transcripts by in situ hybridization offers an excellent alternative
approach. The RNAscope® assay provides a powerful method to detect gene expression within the
spatial and morphological tissue context. BaseScopeTM is a novel in situ hybridization technology
that allows visualization of splice junctions between adjacent exons and/or retained introns in highly
specific and sensitive manner, allowing characterization of alternative splicing and circular RNAs in
cells and tissues.