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Use of a Murine Sarcoma Virus in an in Vivo Assay for Antiviral and Antitumor Agents

Viral Leukemia and Lymphoma Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

A variant of the murine sarcoma virus (Moloney) designated as MSV(PV) has been shown to be a new model for evaluating potential antiviral agents. Inoculation i.p. of this virus into adult mice results in a progressive splenomegaly. The enlarged spleens are firm and contain multiple cream-white areas. Inguinal and cervical lymph nodes are enlarged markedly in the infected animals. The degree of splenomegaly is dependent on initiating dose of virus, which permits the use of spleen weight as a parameter for quantitative measurement of virus titer. Extracellular virus was recoverable from the plasma 3 days after infection, before there was any significant increase in spleen weight. In addition, virus was recoverable from infected spleen and liver 5 days after inoculation. Two drugs, melphalan and 1,3-bis(2-chlorethyl)-1-nitrosourea were tested for antiviral activity against a plasma variant of the murine sarcoma virus (Moloney strain). The parameters utilized for drug effectiveness were retardation of splenomegaly and inhibition of virus synthesis in the drug-treated host animals. Both drugs were found to be effective in retarding splenomegaly, decreasing virus titer, and increasing median survival time.

Received 12/29/69. Accepted 3/20/70.