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Lentiviral vectors can transduce dividing and non-dividing cells more stably and for a longer duration in comparison to the retroviral vectors. The subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles is proved to be the region with the highest neurogenesis in the adult brain tissue. When injected into the subventricular zone of adult mice, the lentiviral vectors generate an efficient and long-term gene expression in both astroglial-like cells and migrating neuroblasts. After differentiation, the number of positive neuronal cells increased over time at the end point of their migratory path. The superior efficiency of the gene transfer and the extent of therapeutic gene expression of the lentiviral vectors surpass the characteristics of the retroviral vectors in long-term in vivo fluorescent-marking of the subventricular zone stem cells. This may be a good basis for new therapeutic strategies for various neurodegenerative disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]