Control of gene expression in neurons by the use of in vivo electroporation and the tetracycline system

Abstract

In vivo electroporation is a powerful technique to transfect foreign genes into neural stem/progenitor cells in the developing nervous system. Gene function has been analyzed in transfected neural stem/progenitor cells and their descendants, differentiated neurons. An inducible gene expression system working in neurons is desirable to examine gene function specifically in neurons. We have recently shown that gene induction is strictly controlled in postmitotic neurons in mice at both embryonic and postnatal stages using in vivo electroporation and the newest version of the tetracycline (Tet)-On system. Here we describe the method of mouse in vivo electroporation combined with the Tet-On system for precise spatiotemporal control of gene expression.