title: Studies on in vivo gene transfer in pituitary tumors using herpes-derived and adenoviral vectors.
abstract: Suicide gene therapy has met limited success for the treatment of rat pituitary tumors. In order to determine the cause of primary pituitary tumor resistance to suicide gene therapy, we studied the transgene expression of an adenoviral (Ad.RSV.beta gal.nls) and a herpes simplex virus-derived (tsK/beta-gal) vector, both harboring the beta-galactosidase reporter gene in rat prolactinomas. Rats carrying experimental prolactinomas received bilateral 1 microl intrapituitary injections of either saline (saline group), 5 x 10(5) plaque-forming units (pfu) tsK/beta-gal (HSV Group) or 5 x 10(5) pfu Ad.RSV.beta gal.nls (RAd Group). Two or seven days later the tumors were examined. Macroscopic inspection of glands injected with either vector showed that the tissue expressing beta-gal was concentrated at the ventral area around the site reached by the tip of the needle. Almost no transgene expression was observed in other sites. Cellularity and lactotrophic cell density was not affected by saline or virus injection. In the injected areas, apoptotic levels were (x +/-S.E.M.): 9.3+/-0.5, 22.1+/-1.1 and 31.7+/-1.4%, for the saline, RAd and HSV groups, respectively. Serum prolactin and growth hormone levels were not affected by virus injection. We conclude that the low diffusibility of viral suspensions in the pituitary tissue may constitute a significant obstacle for achieving full remission of in situ pituitary tumors in rats.
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Néstor G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Carri
authors.forename: Yolanda E
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.forename: Oscar A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albariño
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Romanowski
authors.forename: Rodolfo G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Goya
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D004958:Estradiol / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D041722:Genes, Transgenic, Suicide / Q000502:physiology*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000502:physiology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D007211:Indoles; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; C007293:DAPI; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013937:Thymidine Kinase; D001616:beta-Galactosidase