Because of their postmitotic nature, neurons are difficult subjects for gene transfer. To circumvent this, we have used a defective herpes simplex virus vector to overexpress the rat brain glucose transporter (GT) gene under the control of the human cytomegalovirus iel promoter. This vector, designated vIElGT, was propagated using a herpes simplex virus type 1 temperature-sensitive mutant, ts756. GT expressed from vIElGT was readily immunoprecipitated from membrane fractions of vIElGT-infected Vero cells. By using indirect double immunofluorescence techniques, vIElGT was shown to be capable of enhancing GT expression in cultured hippocampal neurons and glia. Glucose transport in such vIElGT-infected cultures was increased -2-fold relative to controls. The efficacy of this system in vivo was then tested by microinjection of vIElGT into adult rat hippocampus. When examined 2 days later, GT expression from vIElGT was demonstrated in hippocampal neurons by in situ hybridization; a small but significant increase in glucose transport was detected in tissue immediately surrounding the injection site by 2-deoxy[14C]glucose uptake and autoradiography. Such iinjections did not cause marked cytopathology. Thus, this approach can be used to alter central nervous system physiology in vitro and in vivo.