TRANSIENT TRANSFECTION OF OLIGODENDROCYTE PROGENITORS BY ELECTROPORATION

The transient transfection of transgenes into oligodendrocytes offers an important tool for studying the function of proteins during myelin formation. Currently established procedures, however, have generally r esulted in low survival rates and low levels of uptake of the transgen e into primary oligodendrocyte progenitors. We describe an electropora tion method which yields transient transfection of oligodendrocyte pro genitors of up to 10-15% of the surviving cells, and provides approxim ately 10(4) surviving, transfected cells per electroporation reaction. In recent applications transgene expression persisted as the transfec ted progenitors progressed through subsequent stages of the oligodendr ocyte lineage. This technique is expected to facilitate the study of t he function of key proteins and lipids during the development of prima ry cultured oligodendrocytes.