EFFICIENT GENE-EXPRESSION IN MAMMALIAN CLOCK PACEMAKER CELL IN-VITRO BY AN ADENOVIRUS VECTOR

An efficient modified adeno system to express foreign genes to the cen tral nervous system was developed recently. This modified recombinant adenoviral vectors can be used successfully to deliver lacZ to the hyp othalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) which is composed of mammalian clock pacemaker. The expression of lacZ in the primary culture of SCN was dose-dependent and higher enough in nearly 100% of these cells. W e also showed that viral toxicity and lacZ overexpression had no serio us effects on the rhythmic expression of arginine vasopressin (AVP) re lease from the SCN cell culture. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd .