The cytoskeleton of murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-infected mouse fibroblasts as observed under varying conditions of formaldehyde fixation.

Mouse fibroblasts chronically infected with Moloney murine leukemia virus (MuLV) were fixed using variable amounts of formaldehyde, then examined by indirect immunofluorescence light microscopy. Several antisera were employed to detect both external and internal antigens associated with the cells, eg, MuLV gp70, tubulin, vimentin, and actin. Our results indicate that the cell membranes could be partially permeabilized to IgG molecules directed against the three cytoskeletal antigens only after 3.7%, but not 1%, formaldehyde treatment. Complete permeabilization was achieved by subsequent acetone treatment of cells after 3.7% formaldehyde fixation. In such cells, normal-appearing cytoskeletal networks of microtubules and intermediate filaments were observed. Stress fibers were also seen; however, they appeared less numerous and thinner than those of uninfected mouse fibroblasts. Further, a significant amounts of F-actin fluorescence was localized in granules in the cytoplasm of infected cells. Similar observations were made using JLS-V9 mouse cells chronically infected with 334C virus, another MuLV. These results taken together suggest that subtle differences exist in the organization of actin within MuLV-infected and uninfected mouse fibroblasts.