IN-VIVO GENE ELECTROINJECTION AND EXPRESSION IN RAT-LIVER

In vivo targeted gene transfer by non-viral vectors is subjected to an atomical constraints depending on the route of administration, Transfe ction efficiency and gene expression in vivo using non-viral vectors i s also relatively low. We report that in vivo electropermeabilization of the liver tissue of rats in the presence of genes encoding lucifera se or beta-galactosidase resulted in the strong expression of these ge netic markers in rat liver cells. About 30-40% of the rat liver cells electroporated expressed the beta-galactosidase genetic marker 48 h af ter electroporation. The marker expression was also detected at least 21 days after transfection at about 5% of the level 48 h after electro poration, The results indicate that gene transfer by electroporation i n vivo may avoid anatomical constraints and low transfection efficienc y.