LOCALIZATION OF THE PIG LUTEINIZING-HORMONE CHORIOGONADOTROPIN RECEPTOR GENE (LHCGR) BY RADIOACTIVE AND NONRADIOACTIVE INSITU HYBRIDIZATION

The porcine gene for luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) was localized to chromosome 3q2.2 --> q2.3 using radioactive and nonradioactive in situ hybridization. A computer-assisted image-analysis system was developed which facilitated detection of the position of silver grains and fluorescent spots on the chromosomes after in situ hybridization. Compared with autoradiographic visualization, the nonisotopic procedure proved to be more rapid, precise, and highly specific; however, nonradiographic in situ hybridization was much less efficient than the autoradiographic technique for the detection of unique DNA sequences with small probes. From these results and published gene-mapping data, it was concluded that the synteny between LHCGR and MDH1 observed in man is conserved in the pig genome.