Microinjection of simian adenovirus SA7 (C-8) DNA into the mouse zygotes: differential distribution of viral DNA in organs.

A simian adenovirus SA7 (C-8) DNA was microinjected into fertilized mouse eggs. Thirty-five mice derived from eggs injected with SA7 DNA were screened for the presence of the adenovirus genome in their liver DNA. Eighteen of these mice contained the virus-specific sequences. SA7 DNA was detected in some tissues, but in all cases, viral sequences were absent from muscle and heart DNA. Viral DNA was inherited by 50-70% of the next generation. One mouse that contained about 1 copy of SA7 DNA per haploid genome has been shown to pass it on to five generations, although the integrated viral DNA sustained a considerable structural change between F1 and F3. RNA analysis in various organs of 12 mice has shown the transcription of SA7 DNA to be very infrequent: only in the kidney of one mouse and in the spleen of another did RNA contain SA7-specific sequences.