Gene delivery into the central nervous system by nasal instillation in rats

Replication-deficient adenoviruses have been used successfully to transfer foreign DNA into postmitotic cells. This article demonstrates that it is possible to transfer the Escherichia coli lacZ gene in vivo into the central nervous system structures of rats after nasal instillation of replication-defective adenoviral vector AdRSV beta gal. Mitral cells from the olfactory bulb, neurons from the anterior olfactory nucleus, locus coeruleus and area postrema expressed beta-galactosidase for at least 12 days. No cytopathic effect was observed in the CNS structures studied at the viral titer used (1-3 x 10(9) plaque-forming units (p.f.u.)). This method could be useful for the gene therapy of diseases affecting different CNS structures.