In Situ Detection of microRNAs in Animals

The detection of microRNAs (miRNAs) in situ presents several technical challenges. Although protocols for mRNA detection by in situ hybridization are well established, the small size of miRNAs makes their localization problematic. To overcome this, digoxygenin-labeled locked nucleic acid oligos have been used. These bind strongly and specifically to miR targets and make the identification of the precise spatiotemporal expression of these molecules possible.