Effect of mouse interferon on retrovirus production by chronically infected rat cells

Mouse interferon (IFN) inhibited retrovirus release by both mouse and rat cells with the same efficiency. However, the antiviral state developed more slowly in rat than in mouse cells, and after removal of IFN it also persisted for a longer time in rat than in mouse cells. Under conditions where IFN strongly inhibited virus production it had no effect on cell replication nor on cellular RNA or protein synthesis.