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Sperm-mediated gene transfer in mice
B Maione1, M Lavitrano, C Spadafora
1Department of Experimental Medicine, Institute of General Pathology, University La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
Molecular Reproduction and Development
|July 21, 1998
Summary
Sperm-mediated DNA transfer can create transgenic mice, but success rates vary. A large study found a low overall efficiency, suggesting event clustering may explain inconsistent results in generating transgenic offspring.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Genetics
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Sperm-mediated DNA transfer offers a simplified method for generating transgenic animals.
- Previous studies reported controversial and variable efficiencies for this technique in mice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the variability in sperm-mediated DNA transfer efficiency in mice.
- To identify factors contributing to successful transgenic offspring generation.
Main Methods:
- Sperm were incubated with plasmid DNA during capacitation.
- Fertilization was performed with fresh mouse oocytes.
- Cleaved embryos were transferred to pseudopregnant recipients for gestation.
Main Results:
- Out of 75 experiments, 13 yielded transgenic offspring (7.4% of fetuses).
- Five experiments achieved high success rates (>85% transgenic offspring), but contributing factors remain unidentified.
- The low frequency and clustering of successful events may explain disparate previous reports.
Conclusions:
- The variability in sperm-mediated DNA transfer success in mice might be due to the clustering of rare events.
- Identifying factors for high success could establish this as a key tool for transgenic mouse generation.
- Further research may reveal natural mechanisms protecting against foreign DNA transfer via sperm.