Brain tumors in owl monkeys inoculated with a human polyomavirus (JC virus)

WT London, SA Houff, DL Madden, DA Fuccillo… - Science, 1978 - science.org
WT London, SA Houff, DL Madden, DA Fuccillo, M Gravell, WC Wallen, AE Palmer, JL Sever…
Science, 1978science.org
Owl monkeys were inoculated intracerebrally, subcutaneously, and intravenously with JC,
BK, or SV40 virus. Two of four adult owl monkeys inoculated with JC virus, a human
polyomavirus, developed brain tumors at 16 and 25 months after inoculation, respectively. A
grade 3 to grade 4 astrocytoma (resembling a human glioblastoma multiforme) was found in
the left cerebral hemisphere and brainstem of one monkey. The second monkey developed
a malignant tumor in the left cerebral hemisphere containing both glial and neuronal cell …
Owl monkeys were inoculated intracerebrally, subcutaneously, and intravenously with JC, BK, or SV40 virus. Two of four adult owl monkeys inoculated with JC virus, a human polyomavirus, developed brain tumors at 16 and 25 months after inoculation, respectively. A grade 3 to grade 4 astrocytoma (resembling a human glioblastoma multiforme) was found in the left cerebral hemisphere and brainstem of one monkey. The second monkey developed a malignant tumor in the left cerebral hemisphere containing both glial and neuronal cell types. Impression smears prepared from unfixed tissue of this tumor showed cells that contained polyomavirus T antigen. Virion antigens were not detected. Tumor cells cultured in vitro also contained T antigen but were negative for virion antigen. Infectious virus was not isolated from extracts of this tumor.
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