Examination of virus-infected cultured cells by scanning electron microscopy.

The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to detect changes in morphology of BSC-1 cells after infection with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) or herpes simplex virus. The morphological changes of the infected cells were related to the length of time of infection and to the virus used. Extensive alteration to the cytoplasm could be seen 24 and 48 hr after infection with 10 and 320 TCID(50) of VSV. Within 24 hr after infection with 1 TCID(50) of herpes simplex, a few nuclei were swollen. However, 72 hr after infection with 100 TCID(50) of herpesvirus, many nuclei were swollen and appeared in large aggregates, probably representing formation of a polykaryocyte. Corresponding samples stained with May-Grunwald-Giemsa were observed in the light microscope and morphological changes were compared to those seen with the SEM.