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Infection of cultured early mouse embryos with Semliki Forest and rubella viruses
Abstract:
Early mouse embryos at the four- to eight-cell stage or the blastocyst stage could be infected with the A7 strain of Semliki Forest virus (SFV) after the removal of the zona pellucida, either by Pronase treatment or following hatching of blastocysts. With SFV, rapid virus production and eventual cytolysis resulted from infection at either stage. For four- to eight-cell embryos the cytopathic effect was delayed and a proportion of embryos developed to the blastocyst stage. Four- and eight-cell embryos could not be infected with rubella virus (RV), even after removal of the zona pellucida. RV infection of zona-free blastocysts resulted in a productive but non-cytolytic infection which did not affect embryonic development to the early egg-cylinder stage. RV did not multiply in inner cell mass cells isolated from embryos at the blastocyst stage, although SFV did multiply in such cells.
Insights
Early mouse embryos can be infected with Semliki Forest virus (SFV), causing cell damage. Rubella virus (RV) infects blastocysts without harming development, but not earlier embryos.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Virology
- Embryology
Background:
- Understanding viral interactions with early mammalian embryos is crucial for reproductive health and developmental studies.
- The susceptibility of different embryonic stages to viral infection can impact developmental potential and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the susceptibility of early mouse embryos (four- to eight-cell stage and blastocyst) to Semliki Forest virus (SFV) and rubella virus (RV).
- To characterize the effects of SFV and RV infections on embryonic development and cellular viability.
Main Methods:
- Infection of zona pellucida-free early mouse embryos (four- to eight-cell stage and blastocyst) with SFV and RV.
- Assessment of viral replication, cytopathic effects, and embryonic development post-infection.
- Isolation and infection of inner cell mass cells from blastocysts.
Main Results:
- SFV infected both four- to eight-cell stage and blastocyst embryos, leading to rapid viral production, cytolysis, and delayed effects in earlier stages.
- RV failed to infect four- to eight-cell embryos but productively infected blastocysts without causing cytolysis or hindering development to the egg-cylinder stage.
- RV did not replicate in isolated inner cell mass cells, whereas SFV did.
Conclusions:
- Early mouse embryo susceptibility to viruses varies significantly with developmental stage and viral type.
- SFV causes cytolytic infections in early mouse embryos, while RV establishes a non-cytolytic infection in blastocysts, highlighting differential viral-embryo interactions.