This study was supported by the SANPORC and ALSA Foundation grant (Martin Marsala); the National Sustainability Programme, project number LO1609 (Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports); and RVO: 67985904 (Stefan Juhas and Jana Juhasova).

These studies were carried out under a protocol approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of California, San Diego and were in compliance with the Association for Assessment of Laboratory Animal Care guidelines for animal use. All studies were performed in such a manner as to minimize group size and animal suffering.
1. General Animal and Surgical Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Before starting the surgical procedure, thaw the virus (AAV9-UBI-GFP; 5 &#181;L ...

<ol>
	<li>Foust, K. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intravascular+AAV9+preferentially+targets+neonatal+neurons+and+adult+astrocytes.">Intravascular AAV9 preferentially targets neonatal neurons and adult astrocytes.</a> Nat Biotechnol. 27 (1), 59-65 (2009).</li><li>Duque, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intravenous+administration+of+self-complementary+AAV9+enables+transgene+delivery+to+adult+motor+neurons.">Intravenous administration of self-complementary AAV9 enables transgene delivery to adult motor neurons.</a> Mol Ther. 17 (7), 1187-1196 (2009).</li><li>Gray, S. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preclinical+differences+of+intravascular+AAV9+delivery+to+neurons+and+glia:+a+comparative+study+of+adult+mice+and+nonhuman+primates.">Preclinical differences of intravascular AAV9 delivery to neurons and glia: a comparative study of adult mice and nonhuman primates.</a> Mol Ther. 19 (6), 1058-1069 (2011).</li><li>Meyer, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Improving+single+injection+CSF+delivery+of+AAV9-mediated+gene+therapy+for+SMA:+a+dose-response+study+in+mice+and+nonhuman+primates.">Improving single injection CSF delivery of AAV9-mediated gene therapy for SMA: a dose-response study in mice and nonhuman primates.</a> Mol Ther. 23 (3), 477-487 (2015).</li><li>Foust, K. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Therapeutic+AAV9-mediated+suppression+of+mutant+SOD1+slows+disease+progression+and+extends+survival+in+models+of+inherited+ALS.">Therapeutic AAV9-mediated suppression of mutant SOD1 slows disease progression and extends survival in models of inherited ALS.</a> Mol Ther. 21 (12), 2148-2159 (2013).</li><li>Passini, M. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Translational+fidelity+of+intrathecal+delivery+of+self-complementary+AAV9-survival+motor+neuron+1+for+spinal+muscular+atrophy.">Translational fidelity of intrathecal delivery of self-complementary AAV9-survival motor neuron 1 for spinal muscular atrophy.</a> Hum Gene Ther. 25 (7), 619-630 (2014).</li><li>Bell, P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Motor+neuron+transduction+after+intracisternal+delivery+of+AAV9+in+a+cynomolgus+macaque.">Motor neuron transduction after intracisternal delivery of AAV9 in a cynomolgus macaque.</a> Hum Gene Ther Methods. 26 (2), 43-44 (2015).</li><li>Miyanohara, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Potent+spinal+parenchymal+AAV9-mediated+gene+delivery+by+subpial+injection+in+adult+rats+and+pigs.">Potent spinal parenchymal AAV9-mediated gene delivery by subpial injection in adult rats and pigs.</a> Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev. 3, 16046 (2016).</li><li>Xu, Q., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vivo+gene+knockdown+in+rat+dorsal+root+ganglia+mediated+by+self-complementary+adeno-associated+virus+serotype+5+following+intrathecal+delivery.">In vivo gene knockdown in rat dorsal root ganglia mediated by self-complementary adeno-associated virus serotype 5 following intrathecal delivery.</a> PLoS One. 7 (3), 32581 (2012).</li><li>Xiao, X., Li, J., Samulski, R. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Production+of+high-titer+recombinant+adeno-associated+virus+vectors+in+the+absence+of+helper+adenovirus.">Production of high-titer recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors in the absence of helper adenovirus.</a> J Virol. 72 (3), 2224-2232 (1998).</li></ol>

The current study describes a technique of subpial vector (AAV9) delivery in adult mice. As demonstrated in the accompanying video, this approach and technique can effectively be used, provided that the required instruments and pia-penetrating needle and subpial injection needle are properly manufactured, according to the established and tested specifications.
Critical Technical Variables in Performing a Consistent and Safe Subpial Injection in Mice: 
As demonstrated, a s...

The use of AAV vectors to treat a variety of spinal cord and CNS neurodegenerative disorders is becoming a well-accepted platform to effectively upregulate or silence the expression of gene(s) of interest. One of the key limitations to the more effective utilization of this technology to treat CNS/spinal cord disorders is the limited ability to deliver AAV vector(s) to the deep brain or spinal cord parenchyma in adult mammals.
It was demonstrated, for example, that the systemic delivery of AAV9 in adult rodents, cats, or non-human primates is only moderately effective at inducing transgene expression in neurons in the brain and spinal cord1,2,3. The more effective intrathecal delivery of AAV9 vectors has also been shown to lead to only limited transgene expression in anatomically-defined pools of neurons. More specifically, it has been demonstrated that cisternal or lumbo-sacral intrathecal AAV9 delivery in non-human primates, pigs, or rodents leads to a high level of transgene expression in spinal &#945;-motoneurons and segmental dorsal root ganglion neurons. However, minimal or no expression in spinal interneurons or ascending or descending axons in the white matter is seen4,5,6,7. Collectively, these data show that a highly effective biological-anatomical barrier exists, which prevents the diffusion of intrathecally delivered AAV into deeper spinal parenchyma.
In a previous study using adult rats and pigs, a novel subpial vector delivery technique was developed8. Using this approach, highly potent and multi-segmental transgene expression was demonstrated after a single-bolus subpial AAV9 delivery. Intense GFP expression was consistently seen in neurons, glial cells, and descending/ascending axons through the injected spinal segments. This study demonstrated for the first time that the pia mater represents the primary barrier limiting effective AAV9 diffusion into the spinal parenchyma from the intrathecal space. While this previously developed technique and subpial injection device is relatively easy to use in large rodents (like rats) or adult pigs, the system is not suitable for use in small animals, such as adult mice. Because of the high number of available transgenic mouse models of a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, there is a clear need for the development of an effective spinal-parenchymal vector delivery technique in mice. The availability of such a technique would permit the study of the effect of specific gene silencing (e.g., using shRNA) or upregulation using cell-non-specific (e.g., cytomegalovirus-CMV or Ubiquitin) or cell-specific (e.g., synapsin or glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)) promoters during early postnatal development or under diseased conditions.
Accordingly, in the present study, we have developed and validated a miniature subpial vector delivery system that can effectively be used in adult mice. Similarly, as in previous rat and pig studies, this work demonstrates potent transgene expression throughout the spinal parenchyma after a single-bolus subpial AAV9 delivery in mice. The simplicity of this approach, the very good tolerability of injected mice to subpial AAV9 delivery, and the high potency of transgene expression in the spinal parenchyma suggest that this technique can effectively be implemented in any laboratory setting and used in experiments targeting spinal gene expression.

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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:255px;">C57BL/6J Mice</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">Jackson Labs</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:199px;">664</td>
			<td style="width:192px;"></td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:255px;">Lab Standard Stereotaxic for Mice</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">Harvard Apparatus</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">72-9568</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:255px;">Mouse Spinal Adaptor</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">Harvard Apparatus</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">72-4811</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">XYZ Manipulator</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">Stoelting</td>
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			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:255px;">36G Blunt Nanofill needle</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">NF-36BL-2</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:255px;">20G Stainless Steel Needle</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">Becton-Dickinson</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:255px;">23G Stainless Steel Needle</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:255px;">30G Stainless Steel Needle</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">Becton-Dickinson</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:199px;">305128</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:255px;">Cotton Tipped Applicator</td>
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			<td style="width:199px;">M80</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">50&#956;l Microsyringe&#160;</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:255px;">BD Intramedic PE-20 Tubing</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">Becton, Dickinson</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:199px;">427406</td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:255px;">BD Intramedic PE-10 Tubing</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">Becton, Dickinson</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:199px;">427401</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">4-0 monofilament suture</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">VetOne</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">V1D397</td>
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			<td>Narishige</td>
			<td>Pipet Micro Grinder EG-40&#160;</td>
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			<td height="20" style="height:21px;">5 min Epoxy (Epoxy Clear)</td>
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			<td style="width:163px;">MWI Veterinary Supply</td>
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			<td align="right" style="width:199px;">54254</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:199px;">158127</td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sucrose</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">S0389</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:255px;">Anti NeuN Antibody</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">EMD-Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">ABN78</td>
			<td>Primary Rabbit Polyclonal Antibody, 1:1000</td>
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			<td style="width:163px;">EMD-Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">AB144P</td>
			<td>Primary Goat Polyclonal Antibody, 1:100</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:255px;">Anti GFP Antibody</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">Aves Labs</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">GFP-1020</td>
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			<td style="width:163px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
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			<td>Secondary Antibody, 1:1000</td>
		</tr>
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			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:255px;">&#160;Donkey anti-Rabbit IgG Secondary Antibody, Alexa Fluor 680</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">A10043</td>
			<td>Secondary Antibody, 1:1000</td>
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		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:255px;">Donkey anti-Chicken IgY Secondary Antibody, Alexa Fluor 488</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">Jackson Immunoresearch Labs</td>
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			<td style="width:163px;">Abcam</td>
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			<td>Secondary Antibody, 1:1000</td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:255px;">Slide Microscope Superfrost</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">12-550-143</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:255px;">ProLong Gold Antifade Mountant</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">P36930</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:255px;">Epifluorescence Microscope</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Zeiss AxioImager M2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:255px;">Fluorescence Confocal Microscope</td>
			<td style="width:163px;">Olympus</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Olympus FV1000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
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			<td style="width:163px;">Polysciences, Inc</td>
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			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">AAV9-UBC-GFP</td>
			<td colspan="2">UCSD Viral Vector Core Laboratory</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

subpial adeno-associated virus 9 (aav9) vector delivery in adult mice

The successful development of a subpial adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) vector delivery technique in adult rats and pigs has been reported on previously. Using subpially-placed polyethylene catheters (PE-10 or PE-5) for AAV9 delivery, potent transgene expression through the spinal parenchyma (white and gray matter) in subpially-injected spinal segments has been demonstrated. Because of the wide range of transgenic mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases, there is a strong desire for the development of a potent central nervous system (CNS)-targeted vector delivery technique in adult mice. Accordingly, the present study describes the development of a spinal subpial vector delivery device and technique to permit safe and effective spinal AAV9 delivery in adult C57BL/6J mice. In spinally immobilized and anesthetized mice, the pia mater (cervical 1 and lumbar 1-2 spinal segmental level) was incised with a sharp 34 G needle using an XYZ manipulator. A second XYZ manipulator was then used to advance a blunt 36G needle into the lumbar and/or cervical subpial space. The AAV9 vector (3-5 &#181;L; 1.2 x 1013 genome copies (gc)) encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) was then injected subpially. After injections, neurological function (motor and sensory) was assessed periodically, and animals were perfusion-fixed 14 days after AAV9 delivery with 4% paraformaldehyde. Analysis of horizontal or transverse spinal cord sections showed transgene expression throughout the entire spinal cord, in both gray and white matter. In addition, intense retrogradely-mediated GFP expression was seen in the descending motor axons and neurons in the motor cortex, nucleus ruber, and formatio reticularis. No neurological dysfunction was noted in any animals. These data show that the subpial vector delivery technique can successfully be used in adult mice, without causing procedure-related spinal cord injury, and is associated with highly potent transgene expression throughout the spinal neuraxis.

Potent Transgene Expression in Subpially AAV9-injected Segments: 
The analysis of transgene (GFP) expression in spinal cord sections at 14 days after AAV9 delivery showed AAV9-dose dependent GFP expression throughout the spinal parenchyma. First, two bilateral 3 &#181;L injections of AAV9-UBI-GFP injected into the upper lumbar subpial space were associated with the near-complete infection of the white and gray matter in the whole lumbar spinal cord, extending to the ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Subpial Adeno-associated Virus 9 AAV9 Vector Delivery in Adult Mice at JoVE.com

Subpial Adeno-associated Virus 9 AAV9 Vector Delivery in Adult Mice

The goal of the present study was to develop and validate the potency and safety of spinal adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)-mediated gene delivery by using a novel subpial gene delivery technique in adult mice.

Subpial Adeno-associated Virus 9 (AAV9) Vector Delivery in Adult Mice

The successful development of a subpial adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) vector delivery technique in adult rats and pigs has been reported on previously. ...

The overall goal of this subpial AAV9 delivery technique is to achieve a potent spinal parenchymal transgene expression throughout the entire length of spinal chord in adult mice. This method can facilitate studies targeted to manipulate spinal gene expression and help to understand the mechanism of several spinal neurodegenerative disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal traumatic injury, or chronic pain. The main advantage of this technique is that highly potent transgene expression is achieved through the spinal gray and white matter in multiple spinal segments, which are adjacent to subpial AAV9 injected segment.Visual demonstration of this method is critical because the dura-opening step and placement of subpial needle are difficult to learn without visual demonstration. Demonstrating the procedure will be Takahiro Tadokoro, a post-doctorate fellow in our laboratory. Begin by properly anesthetizing the animal for surgery, isoflurane is used here.Ensure the absence of a paw pinch response before proceeding, then cover the eyes with ophthalmic ointment. Next, shave the back of the animal with clippers and clean the skin with 2%chlorhexidine. If lumbar subpial injections are to be performed, cut the skin overlying the T8 to L1 vertebrae with a scalpel and then use scissors to detach the paravertebral muscle from the T10 to T12 spinal vertebrae.Mount the animal into a standard stereotaxic frame, using mouse spinal clamps. Next, use a dental drill to shave both sides of the lamina of the T10 to T12 vertebrae until cracks appear then use forceps to remove cracked bone fragments and expose the dorsal surface of the lumbar spinal chord. The dura is now visible, use a 30 gauge stainless steel needle to make a one to two millimeter incision into the dura.It is important to carefully cut open the dura to avoid injury to the underlying pia membrane. Now, grasp the edge of the cut dura with forceps and extend the dura opening for up to five millimeters. If cervical subpial injections are to be performed, immobilize the head of the mouse by placing the head into a stereotaxic frame using ear bars and use scissors to make a 1.5 to two centimeter incision in the dorsal neck skin to expose the C1 and C2 segments and occipital bone.Then, shave a portion of exposed occipital bone using a dental drill and remove the bone fragments using forceps. Then, use a 23 gauge stainless steel needle and forceps to remove the atlanto occipital membrane of the cisterna magna. Use cotton swabs to clean the incision site of any tissue and bone debris, then cut open the dura, making a two to three millimeter incision.Mount the 34 gauge pia-penetrating needle and 36 gauge injection needle on to the Z arms of two separate X, Y, Z manipulators using glass capillary holders. Next, use a 50 microliter microsyringe connected with PE10 or PE20 tubing to load AAV9-UBI-GFP virus. After the virus is loaded, connect the end of the tubing to the injection needle.Next, while looking through a surgical dissecting scope set to eight to ten X magnification, use the X arm to lower the pia-penetrating needle into the pia to a depth of one millimeter. Keep the angle of the penetrating needle at five to 10 degrees relative to the tissue surface. After opening the pia, use the X arm to remove the pia penetrating needle from the subpial space.Note the penetrated site using a landmark such as a blood vessel. Move the X, Y, and Z arms of the second manipulator to position the tip of the AAV9 virus loaded injection needle into the pia penetrated site. Then, after inserting the tip of the injection needle about 0.5 millimeters in to the subpial space, use the Z arm to lift the pia about 0.3 millimeters, then use the X arm to continue advancing the needle horizontally into the subpial space.Advance the needle until it enters the subpial space at a depth of about two to three millimeters, then use the 50 microliter microsyringe to inject the AAV9-UBI-GFP virus into the subpial space. Remove the injection needle from the subpial space after the AAV9-UBI-GFP injection is complete. Close the muscle and skin using foromonofilament suture and surgical clips.Allow the animal to recover on a heating pad before housing in a clean cage. Two bilateral injections of AAV9-UBI-GFP were delivered into the upper lumbar subpial space and the animals were profusion fixed 14 days after AAV9 delivery. Intense GFP expression is seen in the gray matter located within the dotted area and white matter outside the dotted area.This extends from the lumbar to the upper thoracic segments in animals injected with three plus three microliters of AAV9. Animals injected with a lower volume of AAV9 have less intense expression of GFP. The following images depict potent retrograde and anterograde AAV9-UBI-GFP mediated GFP expression in brain motor and sensory centers.This low-power image clearly shows the presence of intense GFP positivity in the cervical spinal cord, medulla oblongata, cerebellum, and motor cortex. This high-power image taken from a sagittal brain section shows the presence of GFP florescence in neurons in the reticular formation, nucleus ruber, and axons of the spinocerebellar tract. This lower-power image taken from a coronal brain section demonstrates the presence of GFP florescence in pyramidal neurons in the motor cortex and in the terminals of the spinothalamic tract in areas of the reticular thalamic nuclei.Finally, this high-power image demonstrates an intense GFP expression in pyramidal neurons in the motor cortex. Once mastered, this technique can be completed in 30 to 40 minute. The use of this technique by researchers in the field of neuroscience will be an effective tool to study the role of specific genes in the evolution of spinal degenerative disorders.It will also help to explore potential treatment efficacy by suppressing mutated genes known to be linked with progressive spinal neuronal degeneration as in the familiar form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

subpial-adeno-associated-virus-9-aav9-vector-delivery-in-adult-mice

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

17.0K visualizações.  University of California, San Diego. The overall goal of this subpial AAV9 delivery technique is to achieve a potent spinal parenchymal transgene expression throughout the entire length of spinal chord in adult mice. This method can facilitate studies targeted to manipulate spinal gene expression and help to understand the mechanism of several spinal neurodegenerative disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal traumatic injury, or chronic pain. The main advantage of this technique is that highly potent transgene e...