High-performance and site-directed in uteroelectroporation by a triple-electrode probe

摘要

In utero electroporation is a powerful tool to transfect and manipulate neural-precursor cellsof the rodent parietal cortex and their progeny in vivo. Although this technique can potentiallytarget numerous brain areas, reliability of transfection in some brain regions is low or physicalaccess is limited. Here we present a new in utero electroporation configuration based on theuse of three electrodes, the relative position and polarities of which can be adjusted. Thetechnique allows easy access and exceedingly reliable monolateral or bilateral transfectionat brain locations that could only be sporadically targeted before. By improvement in theefficiency of the electrical field distribution, demonstrated here by a mathematical simulation,the multi-electrode configuration also extends the developmental timeframe for reliablein utero electroporation, allowing for the first time specific transfection of Purkinje cells in therat cerebellum.