Replication of murine cytomegalovirus in mast cells.

Mast cells purified from the peritoneal cell population and mast cells derived in culture from bone marrow cells were examined for their sensitivity to murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection in vitro. While up to 70% of mast cells expressed viral antigens, less than 12% of the cells produced infectious virus. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated nucleocapsids in the nuclei and in association with the cisternal elements of the Golgi apparatus. Some complete virions were found within small cytoplasmic vacuoles. In contrast with previous studies of macrophages and fibroblasts, the susceptibility of mast cells to MCMV infection in vitro was not influenced by the H-2 or non-H-2 genotype of the donor.