Embryonic in vivo electroporation in the mouse

Abstract

Electroporation combined with surgery is a quick and highly efficient method to transfect nucleic acids into various embryonic tissues in a spatiotemporally restricted manner. Forceps-type electrodes facilitate transfection by delivering electric pulses from outside of the embryo. Many electroporated embryos survive in the pregnant mouse, are born, and are reared. The developing central nervous system (CNS) is a good target for transfection, because there are many neural progenitors adjacent to the ventricle, into which nucleic acids are relatively easily injected. The expression of transfected genes persists in neurons for months.