Intravenous Administration of Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors in a Rat Model

Abstract

Source: Grames, M. S., et al. Methods and Tips for Intravenous Administration of Adeno-associated Virus to Rats and Evaluation of Central Nervous System Transduction. J. Vis. Exp. (2017)

This video demonstrates the tail vein injection of recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) in rats. After injection into the lateral tail vein, the virus enters the bloodstream, circulates through the heart, and reaches the brain, where it enters neurons and facilitates target protein production for neurotherapeutic applications.

Protocol

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.

1. Prepare the rat

1. Turn the oxygen up to 1 L/min and set the isoflurane anesthesia to 5%. Ensure that the gas anesthesia is flowing to the induction chamber by checking all connecting hoses and stopcock orientations.
2. Place the rat in the gas anesthesia induction chamber for about 3 min until the rat is unresponsive.
3. Ensure adequate depth of anesthesia by pinching the toe. There should be no movement in the foot or leg after the toe pinch.
4. Reduce the isoflur....

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
1-mL syringe	BD	309626	Comes with a 25g needle attached. Replace with 27-30g needle for injection
30g needle	BD	305106
Isoflurane	Piramal Healthcare	66794-013-25	Isoflurane USP 250 mL
Anesthesia mask	Kopf Instruments	906
Gauze	Henry Schein	100-2524	2" x 2" (5 cm x 5 cm)
Gas anesthesia vaporizer	SurgiVet	4214322	Classic T3
Gas anesthesia scavenger	SurgiVet	32373B10	Enviro-PURE
Heating pad	Sears	17280
70% Ethanol	Decon Laboratories, Inc.	2401	140 proof
70% Isopropanol	VWR	89108-160