Foreign gene expression in an organotypic culture of cortical anlage afterin vivo electroporation

A high level of foreign gene expression in organotypic cultures of the cere bral cortical anlage was achieved by electroporation-mediated gene transfer in vivo. A mammalian expression plasmid for green fluorescent protein (GFP ) gene was injected into the lateral ventricle of rat embryos. Immediately after the plasmid DNA injection, the head of the embryo was electroporated between a pair of tweezer-type electrodes. The cortical anlage was isolated and maintained organotypically up to 21 days in vitro (DIV). The GFP-trans gene was expressed intensely in neural progenitor cells at 1 DIV. GFP expre ssing cells were still detectable and were demonstrated to differentiate in to neurons and glia at 21 DIV. This system is expected to be useful for mol ecular analysis of cerebral cortical development and function. NeuroReport 10:2319-2323 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.