TLDR Hair follicles can be kept in RNAlater® at cool or room temperature for a week without harming RNA quality.
This study evaluated the RNA integrity in horse hair follicle samples preserved in RNAlater® under different short-term storage conditions. Samples from three horses were stored at 4°C for 24 hours or 7 days, or at room temperature (19°C) for 7 days, before being decanted and stored at -20°C. RNA concentration and quality were measured, with results showing no significant difference between the groups (Group A: 516 +/-125 ng/ml and RIN 9.5 +/-0.19; Group B: 273+/-93 ng/ml and RIN 9.8+/-0.09; Group C: 476+/-176 ng/ml and RIN 9.2+/-0.35). Additionally, qPCR validation assays confirmed high-quality template cDNA across all groups. The study concludes that hair follicles can be stored in RNAlater® at cool or room temperature for one week without compromising RNA integrity, allowing for extended transport times from remote locations without freezing.
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