Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb: a long-term study.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to study the spatiotemporal gene expression mediated by adenoviral vector in the olfactory pathways.


METHODS
The replication-defective adenoviral vector AxCALacZ, which encodes the enzyme Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase, was applied to mouse olfactory epithelium by intranasal instillation.


RESULTS
The LacZ gene product, beta-galactosidase, was expressed not only in the olfactory receptor neurons and their axons, but also in the olfactory bulbs. The first evidence of anterograde labeling was observed at postinfection day (PID) 2. At PID 3, beta-galactosidase was strongly expressed in olfactory nerve axons, as well as their terminal glomeruli, in the olfactory bulbs. beta-Galactosidase expression persisted up to PID 90, and there was a significant decrease in the number of labeled neurons at PID 30.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest possible long-term effects of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer on the olfactory neurons, as well as the olfactory bulbs.
Doi
Kiyoshi
K
Dept of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kusunoki-cho 7-5-1, Chuo-Ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan.
Nibu
Ken-ichi
K
Ishida
Haruhiko
H
Okado
Haruo
H
Terashima
Toshio
T
D000256:Adenoviridae; D000818:Animals; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D007763:Lac Operon; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000201:enzymology*; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology*; D013997:Time Factors; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism*
D001616:beta-Galactosidase