Comparison of the efficacy of four viral vectors for transducing hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory neurons in the rat supraoptic nucleus

► Adenovirus, HIV, AAV2 and AAV5 vectors were all able to transduce SON neurons. ► AAV5 and HIV (lentiviral) vectors were evaluated in the SON for the first time. ► The cell tropism, spread and timing of expression varied significantly among vectors. ► AAV2 and AAV5 showed efficient transduction of neurons, but no glial transduction. ► AAV5 transduced MNCs somewhat selectively relative to other hypothalamic neurons.