Chromosome Painting of Mouse Peripheral Blood and Spleen Tissues

Abstract

Exposure to genotoxins may induce both structural and numerical chromosome aberrations. Whole chromosome fl uorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of metaphase cells provides a means for analyzing chromosome aberrations with single-cell level resolution. The laboratory mouse model is an essential tool for in vivo genotoxicity studies. However, few published resources are available that provide a comprehensive background and instructions on how to perform whole chromosome FISH on mouse metaphase cells. Here, we consolidate several techniques into a single, comprehensive protocol describing the preparation of mouse metaphase cells for whole chromosome FISH analysis. Also presented are basic recommendations on how to visualize the slides and how to organize the data for analysis and interpretation.