Impaired retrograde axonal transport of adenovirus-mediated E-coli LacZ gene in the mice carrying mutant SOD1 gene

A replication-defective recombinant adenoviral vector containing E. coli la cZ gene was injected into the gastrocnemius muscles of transgenic mice carr ying mutant Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOM) gene and non-transgenic wild-t ype mice at 40 weeks of age. After 60 and 90 h of the injection, lacZ stain ing was observed at the distal ends of the sciatic nerves in both mice grou ps, with the number and the distances greatly reduced in the transgenic mic e. Mean velocities of retrograde transport for lacZ was estimated to be 2.1 and 0.05 mm/24 h in non-transgenic and transgenic mice, respectively. Thes e results indicate that the retrograde axonal transport of foreign gene pro duct is impaired in the mice model for familial amyotrophic lateral scleros is. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.