Rabbit Heart Cell Culture, Strain RHF-1. I. Growth, Cytology, Histology, and Susceptibility to Some Inclusion-Inducing Viruses2

Abstract

A strain of fibroblast-like cells, rabbit heart cell culture, strain RHF-1, derived from the heart tissue of a normal domestic rabbit, has been cultivated serially in vitro over a period of 2 years. Morphologically, this strain has maintained its characteristic fibroblast-like appearance throughout the period in vitro. Chromosomal observation at intervals during serial transfers has shown conformity of type of chromosomes with those of the domestic rabbit while some variation is evidenced in numbers of each type correspondent to the degree of ploidy of that cell. Evidence is also presented that herpes simplex, pseudorabies, and vaccinia viruses grow and induce specific lesions in the cell cultures of strain RHF-1.