Impaired retrograde axonal transport of adenovirus-mediated E. coli LacZ gene in the mice carrying mutant SOD1 gene

A replication-defective recombinant adenoviral vector containing E. coli lacZ gene was injected into the gastrocnemius muscles of transgenic mice carrying mutant Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene and non-transgenic wild-type mice at 40 weeks of age. After 60 and 90 h of the injection, lacZ staining was observed at the distal ends of the sciatic nerves in both mice groups, with the number and the distances greatly reduced in the transgenic mice. Mean velocities of retrograde transport for lacZ was estimated to be 2.1 and 0.05 mm/24 h in non-transgenic and transgenic mice, respectively. These results indicate that the retrograde axonal transport of foreign gene product is impaired in the mice model for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.