Modeling gene expression in the mouse uterine horn by in vivo adenovirus-mediated gene delivery

Endometrium is a unique tissue that is prepared for implantation of blastocyst during each menstrual cycle by expression of genes during a defined period of endometrial receptivity. Induction of gene over-expression in endometrium allows gaining insight on the role that genes play in endometrial function. Here, we show that induction of a state of gene over-expression in endometrium is feasible by in vivo gene delivery by transduction with adenovirus. Analysis of endometrium following adenoviral transduction of LacZ showed increased beta-galactosidase activity in endometrial glands as early as 24 hours following in vivo gene transfer. By 72 hour, the expression was uniformly strong throughout the uterine horn. Viral transduction was efficient in the range of 0.24-24×10⁸ pfu (4.8-480×10⁸ particles) in normal, pregnant and decidualized mouse uterine horns. These findings show that induction of a state of gene over-expression can be successfully attained in endometrium by adenoviral gene delivery.