Localization and quantitation of opsin and transducin mRNAs in bovine retina by in situ hybridization histochemistry

Oligodeoxynucleotide probes complementary to a portion of bovine opsin mRNA and transducin mRNA were used for in situ hybridization histochemistry. Within the retina, only photoreceptors expressed mRNAs detectable with these probes, and the majority of both mRNAs were in photoreceptor inner segments. More opsin mRNA was detected than transducin mRNA. In the inner segments 0.54 +/- 0.05 copies/micron3 of opsin mRNA and 0.34 +/- 0.05 copies/micron3 of transducin mRNA were detected. In the outer nuclear layer, 0.39 +/- 0.06 copies/micron3 of opsin mRNA and 0.27 +/- 0.04 copies/micron3 of transducin mRNA were detected.