Growth of viruses in organ cultures of intestine.

Organ cultures of mouse and human embryo alimentary tract have been prepared and the mucosal epithelium shown to survive in a modified form for up to 12 days. Cultures of mouse tissue supported the growth of EMC and Sendai viruses, and those of human tissue the growth of poliovirus 1, coxsackievirus B3, echovirus 11, Sendai virus and adenovirus 5. Good growth was obtained in human tissue inoculated up to 4 days after preparation. Growth in roller tube cultures was similar to that in cultures set up in Petri dishes. Addition of folic acid and vitamin A had no effect on growth.