Particles morphologically resembling mouse hepatitis virus in nude mouse uterus

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pathology
• Virology
• Immunology

Background:

• Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) is a common pathogen in laboratory mice.
• Nude mice are immunodeficient and susceptible to various infections.
• Oncornaviruses are a type of retrovirus associated with certain cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence of viral particles in the reproductive tract of nude mice.
• To determine if experimental inoculation with baboon type C viral material leads to observable ultrastructural changes.

Main Methods:

• Electron microscopy was used to examine uterine tissues from nude mice.
• Histopathological analysis of uterine gland lumens and endometrial cells.
• Comparison of tissues from control and experimentally inoculated mice.

Main Results:

• Particles morphologically similar to mouse hepatitis virus were identified in the uterine tissues of 8 nude mice.
• No ultrastructural evidence of oncornavirus-associated structures was found in any of the examined mice.
• Experimental inoculation with baboon type C viral-infected materials did not result in detectable oncornavirus structures.

Conclusions:

• The observed particles in nude mice warrant further investigation to confirm their identity as mouse hepatitis virus.
• The study did not find evidence of oncornavirus replication or associated structures in the reproductive tract of these mice following experimental inoculation.