Morphology of BALB/c Mice Inoculated With Rauscher Virus

Abstract

A morphologic study was made of inbred BALB/c mice inoculated with the Rauscher virus. The initial effect was a rapid proliferation of erythroblastic cells in the red pulp of the spleen. Later the spleen was enormously enlarged and resembled a blood-filled sponge. Erythroblastic proliferation also appeared in the liver. Two groups of mice, one that received an early virus preparation and the other a virus recovered from rats, developed lymphocytic leukemia. Thymectomy had no apparent effect on the erythroblastic reaction, while splenectomy intensified the process in the liver and erythroblastic foci appeared in the lymph nodes. Granulocytopoiesis was also stimulated in some mice. The mechanism by which the virus produced the intense blood cell proliferation was not determined. The variability in the reactions of mice to the inoculation of the Rauscher virus is emphasized.