Susceptibility of fetal guinea pig brain cell cultures to replicating guinea pig cytomegalovirus infection is increased with increasing fetal age: infection of astrocytes.

Guinea pig brain cell cultures were established from fetuses at 25, 31, and 37 days of gestation (DG). After 7 days in vitro, the cultures were infected with guinea pig cytomegalovirus (GPCMV). Based on cytopathic effect, immunofluorescence staining for GPCMV by using virus-specific antiserum, and the amount of virus recovered, cultures established from fetuses at 25 DG were least susceptible to replicating infection, and cultures established from fetuses at 37 DG were most susceptible. Using cell-type-specific markers, it was determined that the increase in susceptibility to replicating infection paralleled an increase in the number of differentiated cells. Astrocytes were the most abundant cell type identified and were susceptible to replicating GPCMV infection, whereas neurons were not.