Comparison of human cytomegalovirus growth in MRC‐5 human fibroblasts, brain, and choroid plexus cells in vitro

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Abstract
Cell cultures derived from human brain, choroid plexus, and human lung fibroblasts (MRC‐5) were infected with the Towne strain of human cytomegalovirus (CMV). The cytopathic effect, beginning 24–48 hours after infection, was characterized by foci of enlarged rounded cells that spread slowly and eventually coalesced to destroy the entire monolayer within one week. Cowdry type A inclusion bodies and herpes virus nucleocapsids were seen in infected cells. CMV‐specific antigen was demonstrated by immunofluorescence in fibroblasts and astrocytic cells of brain cultures and in cells of choroid plexus cultures as well as in MRC‐5 fibroblasts. Despite these morphologic and immunochemical similarities the growth of CMV differed in cells of brain and choroid plexus origin as compared with MRC‐5 cells. In brain and choroid plexus cell cultures most of the virus remained cell‐associated throughout the observation period of one week, whereas in MRC‐5 cells the CMV was found in both cell‐associated and cell‐free fractions of harvested material.