Propagation of Poliomyelitis Virus in Fetal Animals While in Utero

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Abstract
Three strains of type 2 poliomyelitis virus were propagated in fetal cotton rats. The fetuses were inoculated on the 21st gestation day and the virus allowed to incubate for 4 days after which the fetuses were removed. Fetal tissues were tested for virus content by grinding in nutrient broth and inoculation intracerebrally into 10 g white mice. By this method virus could be detected only in fetal brain. However it reached a high concentration in this organ (100 times that obtained by the same strain in the central nervous systems of adult mice). Four serial fetal passages were achieved with one strain of the virus and 3 with another without apparent change in their properties. One attempt to propagate type 1 virus in fetal hamsters met with success.