Specific detection of neuronal cell bodies: in situ hybridization with a biotin-labeled neurofilament cDNA probe.

We have used a biotinylated, 300-nucleotide cDNA probe which encodes the 68,000 MW neurofilament protein to detect neurofilament-specific mRNA in situ. The neurofilament message specifically demonstrates the neuronal cell bodies, in contrast to the usual antibody staining which detects their neurites. The hybridization is detected only in neuronal structures. Consequently, detection of the biotinylated neurofilament DNA probe by silver-intensified streptavidin-gold can be specifically used to identify neuronal cell bodies.