Cultivation of Poliomyelitis Virus (Lansing Strain) in Human Embryonic and Placental Tissues.

Summary The propagation of the Lansing strain of poliomyelitis virus in various human embryonic tissue cultures was confirmed. The virus was also shown to multiply in cultures composed of non-nervous tissues. Optimum results were obtained with embryonic skin and muscle tissues. The identity of the virus cultivated was established by intracerebral inoculation of mice and rhesus monkeys, histopathologic findings, neutralization tests with Lansing hyperimmune serum, and production of specific active immunity. Evidence of virus multiplication in human placental tissue was obtained in only 2 of 13 tissue cultures. It is suggested that the negative results may have been due to the presence of gamma globulin in the placental tissues.