Factors affecting survival and integration following microinjection of novel DNA into rainbow trout eggs

It is apparent from the literature that several laboratories have been attempting to introduce cloned genes into fish species by microinjection into eggs. These have involved several variations on the same basic technique. In order to maximize the frequency with which injected genes become incorporated into the fish genome, we have attempted to assess the relative merits of different injection techniques, DNA concentrations, buffers and DNA structure. The design of such experiments has also been drawn from the data available about the production of transgenic mice. We present here results from DNA microinjection experiments in the rainbow trout. Using one basic protocol, each of the parameters was varied and its effects assessed on survival during development and on integration frequency in the resultant fry.