Chapter 5. Results

Table of Contents
5.1. Gene expression after intra-arterial infusion in vivo
5.2. Gene transfer by closed-circuit perfusion ex vivo
5.3. Gene transfer by closed-circuit organ perfusion in vivo
5.4. Tissue and systemic effects of gene transfer by the closed-circuit organ perfusion method

A total of 61 experimental operations were made on the animals, i.e. rabbits, pigs and goats. A summary of the vector delivery methods and the overall results is presented in Table 3.

Table 3. Summary of animal experiments used in this study.

AnimalnOrganMethod for vector deliveryResult
Rabbit  4KidneyIntra-arterial infusionNo expression
Pig11KidneyIntra-arterial infusion with vasodilative agentsNo expression
Pig  2SpleenIntra-arterial infusionNo expression
Pig  2KidneyEx vivo perfusion at room temperatureNo expression
Pig  4KidneyEx vivo perfusion at body temperatureExpression up to 80% of glomeruli
Pig  1LungEx vivo perfusion at body temperatureExpression in vascular and non-vascular cells
Pig13KidneyIn vivo perfusionExpression up to 75% of glomeruli
Pig10SpleenIn vivo perfusionExpression in the perifollicular area
Pig11LungIn vivo perfusionExpression mostly in the airway and alveolar epithelial cells
Goat  3Mammary glandIn vivo perfusionhGh secretion in the goats milk
Total61   

5.1. Gene expression after intra-arterial infusion in vivo

The first set of experiments involving injection of the virus into the renal arteries of four rabbits and eleven farm pigs in vivo did not lead to any successful gene transfer into renal cells, as it appeared four days after the injection. β -galactosidase gene expression was only seen in a few scattered cells in the renal cortex, while no signs of expression were seen in the glomeruli (data not shown). The adjuvant vasodilative agents used in order to diminish possible intrarenal vascular resistance immediately prior to the injection of the virus had no visible effect on the efficiency of gene transfer (Table 4).

Table 4. Experimental intra-arterial infusions of virusparticles into renal artery in conjunction with various vasodilative agents.

Experimental animalVasodilative agentNumber of virusparticles (pfu ml–1)
A1NoneAd 2x109
A2Papaverin 30 mgAd 4x109
A3Papaverin 20 mgAd 4x109
A4Papaverin 10 mgAd 4x109
A5Alprostadil 5 µgAd 4x109
A6Verapamil 2 mgAd 4x109
A7Enalapril 0.5 mgAd 4x109
A8Lidocain 100 mgAd 4x109
A9Papaverin 60 mgAd 4x109
A10NaCl 10 mlAd 4x109
A11Papaverin 20 mg + NaCl 10 mlAd 4x109
pfu= plaque forming unit

Infusion of the adenoviral solution into the splenic artery did not result in any notable β -galactosidase gene expression at four days after the intra-arterial infusions in two experiments.