Plasmid-based short-hairpin RNA interference in the chicken embryo.

The chicken neural tube serves as an ideal model for new techniques to alter gene expression. We show that short-hairpin RNA delivered by a plasmid vector can effectively knock down expression of both exogenous and endogenous genes in the chicken neural tube. We also assay the effects of short-hairpin RNA on the interferon response and find no difference between electroporation of a control plasmid and a short-hairpin RNA plasmid. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.