Multiplication of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in macrophages of NMRI and C57/BL mice.

The multiplication of 8 strains of herpes simplex virus of type 1 and 2 in normal and stimulated macrophages of NMRI and C57/bl mice was tested. Only 3 strains multiplied in normal NMRI macrophages, whereas all strains multiplied in stimulated cells. No multiplication except of one strain was observed in C57/bl macrophages. The multiplication rates of the virus strains correlated well with the determination of the acid-soluble and acid-insoluble thymidine (dTR) radioactivity and autoradiographic studies of infected (normal and stimulated) NMRI and C57/bl macrophages. The influence of the age of mice used for obtaining the macrophages was also studied. In stimulated macrophages more viral DNA was synthesised than in non-stimulated cells.