Cell cultures of spotted souslik--preliminary characterization of their growth and sensitivity to viruses

Cell cultures from the cutaneo-muscular tissue of fetuses (SE), and from lungs (SL), kidneys (SK), testes (STe) of adult spotted sousliks were obtained. Cells from lungs (SL) were viable at 4 degrees C three times longer than fibroblastic cells of human embryos (HEF). At 37 degrees C the growth rate of SL, HEF and L929 cells was similar. However, at 26 degrees C SL cells grew faster than HEF or L929 cells and their population doubling time was shorter. The cultures of SE, SL and SK cells were sensitive to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), Newcastle disease virus Radom (NDV-R) and Hertfordshire (NDV-H) strains, to vaccinia virus and herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2. All these viruses were able to reproduce in souslik cell cultures and caused characteristic CPE.