Growth of mouse L cells in shaken culture and mengovirus plaque formation on L cells suspended in agar.

Procedures are described that require a minimum of equipment and maintenance for growing mouse L cells suspended in liquid medium and for plaquing mengovirus on L cells suspended in agar. Viability of L cells during storage for 1 to 2 hr at relatively high concentrations was better in media at 30 C than at 0 C, as measured by viable counts after growth for 24 hr at 35 C. The number and size of plaques increased with increasing concentration of NaHCO(3) in the agar layers, but the relative difference in plaque size was maintained. Large- and small-plaque-size variants had similar virulence as determined by the rates of viability loss of L cells in liquid suspension cultures.