Sperm as a noninvasive gene delivery system for preimplantation embryos.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if sperm could be manipulated to be a noninvasive transport carrier for the delivery of gene fragments to the blastocyst.


METHODS
Sperm cells carrying foreign DNA fragments from human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16, 18, 31, and 33 were allowed to migrate from one end of an artificial reproductive tube and to come in contact with hatching mouse blastocysts at the other end of the tube. The blastocysts were then washed and analyzed for the presence of the foreign DNA fragments.


METHODS
Clinical and academic research environment.


METHODS
Detection of amplified products from transferred foreign DNA using the polymerase chain reaction and primers targeted at the E6-E7 region for different HPV types.


RESULTS
Polymerase chain reaction analyses showed transference of DNA HPV type 18 to the blastocysts. Not all types of DNA fragments were transferred equally.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested the possibility of using sperm as a noninvasive gene delivery system for passing on gene fragments to preimplantation embryos. It was demonstrated that certain DNA fragments were easier to deliver than others, indicating the necessity for exploring all the factors involved in the mechanism of the transference process. The study also serves to highlight the possibility of unintentional transmission of viral or bacterial DNA to the developing embryo via the sperm.
Chan
P J
PJ
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, California 92350, USA.
Kalugdan
T
T
Su
B C
BC
Whitney
E A
EA
Perrott
W
W
Tredway
D R
DR
King
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013094:Spermatozoa
D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral