Abstract
Methods: :
Wild-type C57Bl6 mice underwent timed pregnancies to determine the date of conception. At embryonic day 14 (E14), the left subretinal space was injected with an AAV (AAV.CMV.eGFP) carrying the enhanced green fluorescent protein marker gene driven by the CMV promoter. Viral concentrations used spanned a range of 1.2 log unit, with the largest dose administered being 3.2E8 gc Contralateral eyes were uninjected. At postnatal day 28, animals were euthanized, eyes enucleated, cryoprotected and sectioned. Retinal sections were examined on a fluorescent microscope for GFP expression.
Results: :
Eyes injected with the lowest doses of AAV showed expression exclusively in the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE). After injection of the higher doses, expression was evident in RPE and photoreceptors. No toxicity was appreciated.
Keywords: gene transfer/gene therapy • retina • gene/expression