Interstrain Resistance to Polyoma Virus Oncogenesis and Runting in Inbred Mice Treated with Antilymphocyte Serum (als)

Summary Newborn DBA/2 mice and C57/BL mice were inoculated at various times in the postnatal period with either polyoma virus, antilymphocyte sera (spleen cell), or both. The DBA/2 mice runted and died in 2-3 weeks when virus and ALS were given within the first week of life. The C57/BL mice treated the same way did not die and some runted temporarily. All DBA/2 mice which received ALS and virus within the first 2 weeks developed malignant parotid gland tumors within 19 weeks after birth. The onset of tumor development was related to the time of ALS treatment. Only C57/BL mice which received ALS and virus within 3 days of birth developed tumors. Early killing, runting, and tumor production in DBA/2 mice and tumor development in C57/BL mice appear to be associated with the developmental level of the animals.