Virus of Avian Myeloblastosis. XIV. Neoplastic Response of Normal Chicken Bone Marrow Treated with the Virus in Tissue Culture22

Abstract

Bone marrow of normal chickens, 37 to 168 days of age, was isolated in culture and exposed to avian myeloblastosis virus. After an interval of 12 to 20 days, there was evidence of change in the treated cultures as manifested by multiplication of cells with the characteristics of myeloblasts. With increase in growth of myeloblasts, there was an associated liberation of myeloblastosis virus into the culture fluid. Wide variation was observed in the rates of cell multiplication and viral synthesis from one culture series to another. The level of response could not be related to tissue-culture conditions nor to the age of the donors of the bone marrow. The ultrastructure of the cells was identical with that of myeloblasts from the circulation in culture, showing evidence of the same series of structures related to virus synthesis. Transfer of the cells derived from bone marrow to normal chickens resulted in transmission of the disease.