Protecting RNA in fixed tissue: an alternative method for LCM users.

RNA degradation is a major drawback in most common fixation protocols in techniques that require both RNA integrity and preserved morphology, such as laser capture microdissection (LCM) followed by RT-PCR. Moreover, RNA isolation kits especially developed for LCM samples are very expensive. Our aim was to determine an easy protocol that ideally must provide an acceptable morphology, allow proper laser capture of selected cells and improve RNA yield and quality.

Temporal and topographic ultrastructural alterations of rat heart myofibrils caused by thyroid hormone.

In order to further our understanding regarding the temporal and topographic ultrastructural aspects of the myocardium under thyrotoxicosis, thyroxine (T4; 25 and 100 microg/100 g bw) was administered to young rats 24 hours after birth until 15 days. The animals were then sacrificed, the hearts excised and weighed, and the ventricle tissue samples were then processed for confocal and transmission electron microscopy. At 48/72 hours and 1 week after initiation of T4 treatment with 100 microg/100 g bw, numerous lamellar bodies (probably formed by phospholipids) progressively accumulated in the heart.