An Ultrastructural Examination of Non-lymphoid Host Cells of Moloney Murine Leukaemia Virus of CFW/D Mice

Abstract

An ultrastructural examination of various tissues from CFW/D mice, neonatally injected with Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MuLV) revealed the presence of type C virus particles budding from the membranes of various bone marrow-derived cells, pancreatic acinar cells, beta cells and submandibular gland acinar cells. These observations indicate that Mo-MuLV has the potential to replicate in non-lymphoid cell types even when acquired postpartum. In the pancreas, a large accumulation of immature and mature viral particles was observed between the cell membranes of the acinar cells and the basal lamina. A similar accumulation of viral particles was observed in the lumina of the acinus of submanidublar glands. The role of murine leukemia viruses as potential mediators of aberrations of non-hemopoietic tissues and an alternative mode of viral transmission are discussed.