Radiation-Induced Leukemia in Germfree Mice.

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Abstract
Summary Lymphatic leukemia was elicited by whole-body X-irradiation in germfree mice of Swiss-Webster, C3H, and C57 Bl strains. The disease was not observed in untreated germfree control animals. The leukemic lesions resembled those induced by X-irradiation in conventional counterpart animals. Cytoplasmic viral inclusions were noted by electron microscopy in cells from the enlarged thymus glands. In analyzing the technical details whereby the animals were entered into and maintained under germfree conditions, one can conclude that the occult leukemogenic agent was perpetuated in successive generations of mice by “vertical” passage, through the ovum or through the placenta.

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