Activation of the Rauscher Leukemia Virus by Metals

Summary

Cobaltous sulfate and lead acetate (but not cupric chloride, nickel sulfate, or the organic arsenical roxarsone), administered in drinking water to CD-1 male mice, induced splenomegaly after injection of Rauscher leukemia virus. Enlarged spleens contained high titers of virus. Sodium arsenite, cadmium chloride, ferric chloride, and particularly mercuric chloride were suspected inducers of splenomegaly. Roxarsone treatment resulted in a slight decrease in splenic size. Untreated virus control mice resisted infection in that they did not develop splenomegaly, and virus was not recovered from their spleens.