RAPID GENE-TRANSFER INTO CULTURED HIPPOCAMPAL-NEURONS AND ACUTE HIPPOCAMPAL SLICES USING ADENOVIRAL VECTORS

Primary cultures of hippocampal neurons were infected with an adenovir us coding for P-galactosidase. Expression could be detected as early a s 4 h after infection and steadily increased to high levels at 24 h wi thout evidence for a functional impairment of the infected neurons. Si milarly, adenovirus-mediated gene transfer into acute hippocampal slic es was detectable 4 h after infection and could be localized to discre te areas of the CAI region by microinjection of the virus stock soluti on. Infected slices were still suitable for electrophysiological exper iments.