title: Glomeruli or interstitium targeted by inter-renal injections supplemented by electroporation: Still a useful tool in renal research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies concerning proteins are always a crucial part of renal research. As a result of current technologies, scientists have mastered several techniques for generating genetically modified animals. However, in most cases, accessing these animals is still time-consuming and often expensive. This makes the alteration of protein expression by in vivo plasmid transfection an easily-accessible alternative. However, there is still no comprehensive study describing where plasmids would be expressed when they are injected into the kidneys.
  
  
  METHODS
  We injected pEGFP-N1 into rats via intra-/inter-renal channels and detected green fluorescent protein (GFP) by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence to localize plasmid expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven days post-injection, we found that GFP was expressed in the glomeruli when pEGFP-N1 was injected via the renal artery or vein enhanced by electroporation and in the interstitium following injection via the ureter. Other channels, including intraperitoneal, subcapsule and parenchymal injection, only led to scattered expression within the kidneys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides evidence that plasmid transfection via the renal vessels is suitable for glomeruli research and that transfection via the ureter is appropriate for studies regarding interstitium lesions. Additionally, we provide evidence that plasmid transfection on live animals is still an applicable and useful tool, as well as being cost-effective and facile.
authors: Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors: Xing
authors: X
authors: Mao
authors: Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors: Fang
authors: F
authors: Li
authors: Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors: Nianji
authors: N
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors: Chenyang
authors: C
authors: Qi
authors: Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors: Steven Qian
authors: SQ
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.|Shanghai Institute for Kidneys and Dialysis, Shanghai, PR China.|Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors: Zhigang
authors: Z
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.|Shanghai Institute for Kidneys and Dialysis, Shanghai, PR China.|Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors: Huijuan
authors: H
authors: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018274:Electroporation; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007267:Injections; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins
keywords: electroporation; gene transfer; kidney; methods; rat