Fate of foreign DNA infused through the carotid aorta in rats

When labbelled bacterial DNA is infused in the carotid of rats, this foreign DNA can be found, at the end of the infusion period, in different tissues and organs. In some organs, like testis and kidneys, only free foreign DNA is found. In others, a label is also found associated with the endogenous material. When the tissues are analyzed several days after the end of the infusion, a similar picture is found. However, the relative amount of free foreign DNA has now decreased. Sonication experiments show that in bone marrow, labelled molecules with the density of the [³H]DNA used can be released from the apparently endogenous DNA, suggesting integration of foreign DNA to rat's normal genome.