Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotides as a Tool in Developmental Neuroendocrinology

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides have been highly successful agents at modulating gene expression in the adult brain and widely exploited in the field of neuroendocrinology. We have also used this technique in the developing brain to explore the role of select proteins during sensitive periods of development, particularly those influenced by steroid hormones. Presented here are the technical details of using antisense oligodeoxynucleotides in the neonatal brain, as well as a review of some of our successes and failures. Our goal is to illustrate the relative ease of use of this technique in neonates and demonstrate the power such an approach offers so that other investigators will also begin to take advantage of this useful tool.