This work was supported by the Margaret M. Alkek Foundation to RHF.

Part 1: Fixing the embryos

<ol>
<li>Fill dissection dish with ice cold depc-PBS. Keep on ice. Open the egg by tapping the shell with forceps and remove shell pieces.</li>
<li>Remove thick albumin with forceps. Tilt yolk sac with coarse forceps so that embryo faces upwards.</li>
<li>Using scissors, cut a square of yolk sac around the embryo.</li>
<li>Using spoon, remove embryo from yolk and place on ice cold depc-PBS. </li>
<li>Under the microscope, remove membranes and yolk and tran...

<ol>
	<li>Streit, A., Berliner, A. J., Papanayotou, C., Sirulnik, A., Stern, C. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Initiation+of+neural+induction+by+FGF+signaling+before+gastrulation.">Initiation of neural induction by FGF signaling before gastrulation.</a> Nature. 406, 74-78 (2000).</li><li>Rodr&#237;guez Esteban, C., Capdevila, J., Economides, A. N., Pascual, J., Ortiz, A., Izpis&#250;a Belmonte, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+novel+Cer-like+protein+Caronte+mediates+the+establishment+of+embryonic+left-right+asymmetry.">The novel Cer-like protein Caronte mediates the establishment of embryonic left-right asymmetry.</a> Nature. 401, 243-251 (1999).</li><li>Psychoyos, D., Stern, C. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Restoration+of+the+organizer+after+radical+ablation+of+Hensen's+node+and+the+anterior+primitive+streak+in+the+chick+embryo.">Restoration of the organizer after radical ablation of Hensen's node and the anterior primitive streak in the chick embryo.</a> Development. 122, 3263-3273 (1996).</li><li>Kawakami, M., Nakanishi, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+role+of+an+endogenous+PKA+inhibitor,+PKIalpha,+in+organizing+left-right+axis+formation.">The role of an endogenous PKA inhibitor, PKIalpha, in organizing left-right axis formation.</a> Development. 128, 2509-2515 (2001).</li><li>Basch, M. L., Bronner-Fraser, M., Garcia-Castro, M. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Specification+of+the+neural+crest+occurs+during+gastrulation+and+requires+Pax7.">Specification of the neural crest occurs during gastrulation and requires Pax7.</a> Nature. 441, 218-222 (2006).</li></ol>

The 2-color whole mount in situ hybridization method is used to determine both spatial and temporal patterns of gene expression, using one or two genes of interest. Applications include assessment of gene expression patterns of novel genes (e.g. 1,2, as well as changes in gene expression following insult (embryonic manipulations 3, beads 4, and electroporation of RNA or DNA constructs 5).

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		<div>
		<table border="1">
		<thead>
		<tr>
		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
		</tr>
		</thead>
		<tbody>
		
<tr>
<td>Eggs</td>
<td>Animal</td>
<td>Charles River </td>
<td>Premium Fertile</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Stereomicroscope</td>
<td>Microscope</td>
<td>Leica Microsystems</td>
<td>MZ9.5</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Marsh Automatic Incubator</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Lyon</td>
<td>RX</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Hybridization Incubator</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Hybaid</td>
<td>Micro-4</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Adams Nutator orbital mixer</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Fisher</td>
<td>14-062</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Curved Forceps (1)</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
<td>72991-4C</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Fine scissors</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>14161-10</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Spoon</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>10370-18</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Pasteur Capillary Pipette</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
<td>70950-12</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Microcapillary tube</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma</td>
<td>P1049-1PAK</td>
<td>Pull using vertical micropipette puller; blunt end with fine forceps</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microdissecting knife</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>10056-12</td>
<td>Use to puncture cavities prior to in situ hybridization</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Minuten pins 0.2mm diam</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
<td>26002-20</td>
<td>Keep pins together using a magnetic stirrer;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sylgard 184 Silicon Elastomer Curing Agent and Base</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Dow Corning</td>
<td>0001986475</td>
<td>Mix 1 part Curing Agent, 9 parts Base; set O/N at 37C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Diethylpyrocarbonate (depc)</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Acros Organics</td>
<td>10025025</td>
<td>Add 1ml depc to 1l PBS; shake; autoclave</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16% PFA</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
<td>15710</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Tween-20</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma</td>
<td>P1379-100ML</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Proteinase K</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma</td>
<td>P2308-5MG</td>
<td>Stock at 10 mg/ml in depc-H2O in 10ul aliquots. Store at -20C.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Formamide, deionized</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Ambion</td>
<td>9342</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Yeast tRNA-25 mg</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Invitrogen</td>
<td>15401-011</td>
<td>Stock at 20 mg/ml in depc-H2O in 125ul aliquots. Store at -20C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Heparin Sodium salt</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma</td>
<td>H4784-250MG</td>
<td>Stock at 50 mg/ml in depc-H2O in 100ul aliquots. Store at -20C.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SSC x20 pH5.5</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Fisher</td>
<td>PR-V4261</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>EDTA (0.5M)</td>
<td>PR-V4231</td>
<td>Fisher</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>SDS</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Fisher</td>
<td>BP166-100</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Maleic acid</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Fluka</td>
<td>63189</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Boehringer Blocking Reagent</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Roche Applied Sciences</td>
<td>11096176001</td>
<td>Use at 2% in MABT. To make, heat with MABT for 20 mn at 60C. Can make a stock and store in 1-5 ml aliquots at 20C.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Heat inactivated sheep serum</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Jackson Immuno</td>
<td>013-000-121</td>
<td>Dissolve in 10 ml H2O; heat 550C, 30 mn. Aliquot at 1ml, -20C.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Anti-Digoxigenin-AP, Fab fragments</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Roche Applied Sciences</td>
<td>11093274910</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>NBT/BCIP stock solution</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Roche Applied Sciences</td>
<td>11681451001</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Anti-Fluorescein-AP, Fab fragments</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Roche Applied Sciences</td>
<td>11426338910</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>2M Tris</td>
<td>BP1759-500</td>
<td>Fisher</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Vector Red Alkaline Phosphatase Substrate Kit</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Vector Laboratories</td>
<td>SK-5100</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma</td>
<td>429325-100ML</td>
<td>Under hood</td>
</tr>		
</tbody>
</table>
</div>

double whole mount in situ hybridization of early chick embryos

The chick embryo is a valuable tool in the study of early embryonic development. Its transparency, accessibility and ease of manipulation, make it an ideal tool for studying  gene expression in brain, neural tube, somite and heart primordia formation. This video demonstrates the different steps in 2-color whole mount in situ hybridization; First, the embryo is dissected from the egg and fixed in paraformaldehyde. Second, the embryo is processed for prehybridization. The embryo is then hybridized with two different probes, one coupled to DIG, and one coupled to FITC.  Following overnight hybridization, the embryo is incubated with DIG coupled antibody. Color reaction for DIG substrate is performed, and the region of interest appears blue. The embryo is then incubated with FITC coupled antibody. The embryo is processed for color reaction with FITC, and the region of interest appears red. Finally, the embryo is fixed and processed for phtograph and sectioning. A troubleshooting guide is also presented.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Double Whole Mount in situ Hybridization of Early Chick Embryos at JoVE.com

Double Whole Mount in situ Hybridization of Early Chick Embryos

This video demonstrates 2-color whole mount in situ hybridization, a method by which the spatial and temporal expression pattern of 2 different genes can be visualized in young chick embryos. This method was originally introduced by David Wilkinson, Domingos Henrique, Phil Ingham and David Ish -Horowicz.

The chick embryo is a valuable tool in the study of early embryonic development. Its transparency, accessibility and ease of manipulation, make it an ...

double-whole-mount-in-situ-hybridization-of-early-chick-embryos

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

12.3K Views.  Institute of Biosciences and Technology - Texas A&M Health Science Center. This video demonstrates 2-color whole mount in situ hybridization, a method by which the spatial and temporal expression pattern of 2 different genes can be visualized in young chick embryos. This method was originally introduced by David Wilkinson, Domingos Henrique, Phil Ingham and David Ish -Horowicz.