FIG. 2.

Liver transduction with 7.2 × 10¹² vg of AAV8-EF1α-nlslacZ delivered via the portal vein. The liver was harvested 6 weeks postinjection and stained with X-Gal and light hematoxylin. A representative result is shown (A and B). Virtually all hepatocytes were transduced with rAAV8 throughout the liver. The liver was stained heterogeneously with X-Gal, with central vein areas being less intense. (C) X-Gal-stained hepatocytes around a central vein area. Although gene expression near central veins was not as strong as in portal areas, most of the hepatocytes express the transgene. (D) X-Gal and F4/80 double staining. None of the Kupffer cells (brown) were transduced. Small nuclei positive for β-galactosidase are indicated with arrows in panels B and D. These might be portions of hepatocyte nuclei or represent rAAV8-transduced nonparenchymal cells besides Kupffer cells. Scale bars, 100 μm.