Interaction of murine cytomegalovirus with separated populations of spleen cells.

Mouse spleen cultures were infected with murine cytomegalovirus, either before or after separating the cells into various classes, and the growth of virus and production of infectious centers were measured in each cell class. The separation techniques, which were used in various combinations, comprised: adherence to plastic surfaces; adherence to nylon wool columns; gamma irradiation; and treatment with anti-immunoglobulin serum plus complement. The "macrophage population" took up most of the input virus, as shown by autoradiography of spleen cells infected with radioactive virus. These cells formed infectious centers but replicated the virus only transiently. In contrast, the "B-lymphocyte population" contained a minor cell fraction which was permissive for replication. The "T-lymphocyte population" appeared to be nonpermissive for replication and did not produce infectious centers.