Hello Arjun!

I think this paper could help you: "Sympathetic neurons and chromaffin cells share a common progenitor in the neural crest in vivo.". The model was the chicken embryo.

Good luck with your experiments!

Dear Arjun,

It is a great question, but I don't think many or any labs around the world can do single cell gene transfer in vivo in mammals including mice??? What tissues you are using and what is your animal model? I have developed a single cell electroporation method in whole-mount retina of mammals (see below). More recently I have modified this and can also get genes or large molecules into the single cells, using larger current/voltage pulses. However, I would imagine it would be challenging to get the gene into only a single cell in vivo. But I am almost certain it is do-able. I worked with in vivo animals and I was filling individual neurons with sharp electrodes (see my publications from 1995 and 1996 available here at RG). Therefore, you may need to develop a  new hybrid model incorporating several techniques previously developed and produced succesful results. Please check out my electroporation method and see if you can modify it for your in vivo prep.

best wishes, Refik

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Thanks Veronica.

Dear Refik,

There are many labs who do single cell transfection in vivo via electroporation as well as patch clamp. But mostly they do a visually guided protocol. As we do not have such a system to monitor either the electroporation nor the patch clamp its a challenge! Also the success rate for these protocols are around 20-30% only. Patch clamp method has a higher success rate. Let me check your protocol. 

Thanks a lot

Arjun