Gene transfer by adenovirus in rabbit iris sphincter muscle

The effect of insertion of an exogenous gene on smooth muscle function in rabbit iris sphincter muscle was investigated. An adenoviral vector encoding the bacterial LacZ gene (AdLacZ, 10(7) pfu) and viscoelastics were injected into the posterior chamber of eyes of albino rabbits. Three days after injection, the effects of acetylcholine (Ach), carbachol (Carb), substance P (SP) and electrical field stimuli on isolated iris sphincter were investigated using isometric tension-recording methods. X-Gal histostaining showed that iris sphincter smooth muscle cells were transfected in 7 of 11 muscle strips. Contraction-response curves for Ach, Carb or SP were not different from control. We conclude that the iris sphincter muscle can be gene-transfected by posterior chamber infusion of an adenoviral vector with viscoelastics. Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer per se had no measurable effect on tension development.