[Electron microscopic study of cell cultures chronically infected with fixed rabies virus]

HEp-2 and Vero cell cultures chronically infected with rabies virus were examined electron microscopically. In the cytoplasm and intercellular spaces of these cultures structures were found morphologically similar to virus particles previously described in cells acutely infected with rabies virus. The observed virus particles were elongated, oval or spherical in shape. Their inner structure appeared as homogeneous material of varying optic density surrounded with a 3-layer membrane. Changes in the ultrastructural organization of the infected cells were observed consisting in the appearance of lipid inclusions, formation of structures of concentrically packed membranes, formation of multilayer areas of the cell membrane.