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Gene transfer to the mammalian reproductive tract†

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 December 2010

Pedro Esponda
Pedro Esponda*
Affiliation:
Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9 (Lab 008), 28040 Madrid, Spain.
*
All correspondence to Pedro Esponda. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9 (Lab 008), 28040 Madrid, Spain. Tel: +34 91 8373132. Fax: 34 91 5360432. e-mail: [email protected].
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Summary

This review summarizes the results of research on gene transfer to the mammalian genital tract. Gene transfer experiments have been developed during the last 2 decades and have been applied using in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo procedures. (i) In vitro methods have been applied to the uterine epithelial cells with the principal purpose of analysing some pathological change occurring in the uterus. In the male tract, epididymal cell lines have been used to evaluate the expression of particular genes and the function of specific proteins. (ii) Ex vivo methods have been applied to both the uterus and the vas deferens in humans, and good transgene expression has been recorded. (iii) In vivo gene transfer in the female tract has been employed in the uterus and oviduct using gene injections or electroporation methods. The glandular epithelium of both organs can be transfected efficiently, and transfection efficiency depends on the hormonal stage of the animal. The best expression occurred during pseudopregnancy and meta-estrus periods, when high progesterone and low estradiol concentrations occur. In the male tract, in vivo methods have been applied to mouse vas deferens and epididymis. In both organs, patches of epithelial regions appeared to express the transgenes. Furthermore, the secretions of both organs were also modified using gene constructions that led to the expression of some secretory proteins. In summary, gene modifications in the epithelium of the mammalian reproductive tract have been successful employing different technologies. Further improvements in transfection efficiency would help provide new insights into the physiology of these reproductive organs. Furthermore, the use of these methods could also be used to modify the fertility of mammals.

Keywords

EpididymisGene transferOviductReproductive tractsTransfectionUterusVas deferens
Type
Research Article
Information
Zygote , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , November 2011 , pp. 287 - 295
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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Footnotes

†

This paper is dedicated to the memory of my friend, the late Dr Claudio Barros, for his dedication and contributions to reproductive biology.

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