Metabolic studies on vaccinia-virus-infected oligodendrocytes in brain cell cultures

Abstract

Twelve-day-old cultures of dissociated newborn mouse brain were infected with neurotropic vaccinia virus strain WR. Using the indirect immunofluorescence staining technique the total destruction of galactocerebroside (GL) or myelin basic protein (MBP)-positive oligodendrocytes could be detected after 72 h of infection. The activity of the oligodendrocyte-specific enzymes, cerebroside sulfotransferase (CST) and 2′3′-cyolionucleotide 3′-phosphohydrolase (CNP), was 27% and 17% respectively of the activity in noninfected controls. This reduction was not a result of viral-induced inhibition of host protein synthesis. In cultures treated with puromycin GC- and MBP-positive oligodendrocytes were detectable at a time at which no CST or CNP activity could be detected. © 1984 Springer-Verlag.