CECCHI, C.R.HIGUTI, E.LIMA, E.R.VIEIRA, D.P.SQUAIR, P.L.PERONI, C.N.BARTOLINI, P.2018-02-022018-02-022017CECCHI, C.R.; HIGUTI, E.; LIMA, E.R.; VIEIRA, D.P.; SQUAIR, P.L.; PERONI, C.N.; BARTOLINI, P. Efficient non-invasive plasmid-DNA administration into tibialis cranialis muscle of “little” mice. <b>Current Molecular Medicine</b>, v. 17, n. 3, p. 230-235, 2017. DOI: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524017666170721152119">10.2174/1566524017666170721152119</a>. Disponível em: http://repositorio.ipen.br/handle/123456789/28442.1875-5666http://repositorio.ipen.br/handle/123456789/28442Background: An alternative treatment for growth hormone deficiency based on hGH-DNA administration, followed by electro gene transfer, was investigated by injecting the plasmid into surgically exposed or non-exposed quadriceps or tibialis muscle of immunodeficient “little” mice. Methods: An optimization of electrotransfer conditions via a new combination of high/low voltage pulses is presented. After 3 days, serum hGH was determined and in a 28-day assay, the relative growth parameters were compared. Results: Both groups exhibited similar results: 5.0 ± 2.2 (SD) and 3.5 ± 0.9 ng hGH/ml (P>0.05; n=7) for the exposed quadriceps and non-exposed tibialis treatments, respectively. The final body weight increases were 16.1% for the quadriceps and 18.9% for the tibialis group. The tail and nose-to-tail length increases were 4.5% and 7.1% for the quadriceps and 4.8 and 4.6% for the tibialis group. The right and left femur length increases, obtained from radiographic measurements, were 16.9% and 12.7% for the quadriceps and 19.4% and 12.3% for the tibialis, respectively. A non-significant difference between exposed quadriceps and non-exposed tibialis treatments (P=0.48) was confirmed via a completely integrated statistical analysis. Circulating mIGF-1 levels were 126 ± 47, 106 ± 93 (P>0.05) and 38 ± 15 ng/ml for the quadriceps, tibialis and saline treatments, respectively. Conclusion: These results show that hGH-DNA administration into non-exposed tibialis muscle followed by the new HV/LV electrotransfer protocol was an equally efficient, less traumatic treatment,230-235closedAccessgene therapyhormonesgrowthtibiaimmunosuppressive drugsmicemusclesArtigo de periódico31710.2174/1566524017666170721152119https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8194-5230https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0007-534X38.72