Low Current-driven Micro-electroporation Allows Efficient In Vivo Delivery of Nonviral DNA into the Adult Mouse Brain

Jochen De Vry, Pilar Martinez-Martinez, Mario Losen, Gerard H. Bode, Yasin Temel, Thomas Steckler, Harry W. M. Steinbusch, Marc De Baets, Jos Prickaerts*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Viral gene transfer or transgenic animals are commonly used technologies to alter gene expression in the adult brain, although these approaches lack spatial specificity and are time consuming. We delivered plasmid DNA locally into the brain of adult C57BL/6 mice in vivo by voltage-and current-controlled electroporation. The low current-controlled delivery of unipolar square wave pulses of 125 mu A with microstimulation electrodes at the injection site gave 16 times higher transfection rates than a voltage-controlled electroporation protocol with plate electrodes resulting in currents of about 400 mA. Transfection was restricted to the target region and no damage due to the electric pulses was found. Our current-controlled electroporation protocol indicated that the use of very low currents resulting in applied voltages within the physiological range of the membrane potential, allows efficient transfection of nonviral plasmid DNA. In conclusion, low current-controlled electroporation is an excellent approach for electroporation in the adult brain, i.e., gene function can be influenced locally at a high level with no mortality and minimal tissue damage.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1183-1191
JournalMolecular Therapy
Volume18
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2010

Cite this