Adenovirus-mediated introduction of DNA into pig sperm and offspring

ability of adenoviral vectors to transfer DNA into boar spermatozoa and to offspring was tested. Exposure of spermatozoa to adenovirus bearing the E. coli lacZ gene resulted in the transfer of the gene to the head of the sper matozoa. Treatment did not affect either viability or acrosomal integrity o f boar sperm. Of the 2- to 8-cell embryos obtained after in vitro fertiliza tion with adenovirus-exposed sperm, 21.7% expressed the LacZ product. Four out of 56 piglets (about 7%) obtained after artificial insemination with ad enovirus-exposed spermatozoa were positive in PCR analyses, even though non e of the piglets showed the LacZ gene after southern blot analysis. RT-PCR analysis performed in tissues from two positive stillborn piglets showed th e presence of the LacZ mRNA in all of the tissues tested. The offspring obt ained after mating two positive animals did not show LacZ gene presence. Ou r results indicate that adenovirus could be a feasible mechanism for the de livery of DNA into spermatozoa, even though the transfer of the transgene m ay be limited to the first generation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 53:149-158, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.