Poliomyelitis Virus in Tissue Culture VI. Use of Kidney Epithelium Grown on Glass.

Abstract

Monkey kidney epithelial cells can be cultured on glass without a plasma clot. The kidney fragments are induced to adhere to the wall of the test tube by preheating the tube (45[degree]C) and partial drying after introduction of tissue. These cultures compare well with cultures prepd. in plasma clots and respond as readily to the introduction of poliomyelitis virus. A great advantage is realized in the simplicity of prepn. of these cultures and their incubation in stationary racks. Exclusive of preliminary prepns. and subsequent stoppering of the tubes, 2 trained workers can prepare well over 1000 cultures in 1 hr. About 2000 such cultures can be provided from a single monkey. Bottle cultures can be prepd. by the same technique and have yielded poliomyelitis virus titers of about 10-7 per 0.1 ml. Titers in tubes or bottles reach their max. in 24-72 hrs., depending upon the dose of virus inoculated. After a culture has grown to satisfactory dimensions, original tissue fragments may be shaken off and transferred to new vessels. The fragments settle and produce comparable outgrowth in a shorter period of time than in the original culture.