REPLICATION OF NEUROTROPIC INFLUENZA VIRUS IN ORGANOTYPIC CULTURES OF EMBRYONIC MOUSE HYPOTHALAMUS

Neurotropic influenza virus (WS-N strain) causes cytolytic changes in organotypic neural cultures derived from embryonic mouse hypothalamus. Initially, nerve cells develop enlarged, refractile nucleoli. In later stages, both nerve and glial cells undergo necrotic changes. These alterations are accompanied by synthesis of progeny virus and formation of intracellular viral antigen. Electron microscopic observations of infected cultures reveal virus particles with the morphology and dimensions of influenza virions. Organotypic neural cultures may prove useful in studies of influenza virus neurotropism.