Lentiviral-Mediated Transgenesis in Songbirds

Transgenesis involves the insertion of an exogenous gene into an animal's genome, which allows the identification of the expressed phenotypes in brain function or behavior. Lentiviral-mediated transgenesis offers unique transduction potency making it possible to deliver and stably integrate transgenes into a wide variety of dividing and nondividing cells. The ability to establish long-term expression of such transgenes allows their use for transgenesis which is especially useful in organisms lacking quality pluripotent stem cell lines and which is otherwise difficult to produce via traditional pronuclear microinjection, such as songbirds. Here we describe a protocol to generate the transgenic songbird, the zebra finch, by producing and inserting lentiviral-mediated transgene into the blastoderm of freshly laid eggs. This protocol includes procedures for production of lentiviral vectors, injection of a virus into zebra finch embryos, and postinjection care. The implementation of the songbird transgenic approach provides a leap toward basic and translational neuroscience that uses an animal model for speech and language and their pathologies. Additionally, the highly quantifiable song behavior, combined with a well-characterized song circuitry, offers an exciting opportunity to develop therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders.