An ultrastructural examination of non-lymphoid host cells of Moloney murine leukaemia virus of CFW/D mice.

An ultrastructural examination of various tissues from CFW/D mice, neonatally injected with Moloney murine leukaemia virus (Mo-MuLV) revealed the presence of type C virus particles budding from the membranes of various bone marrow-derived cells, pancreatic acinar cells, beta cells, and submandibular gland acinar cells. These observations indicate that Mo-MuLV has the potential to replicate in non-lymphoid cell types even when acquired post-partum. In the pancreas, a large accumulation of immature and mature viral particles was observed between the cell membranes of the acinar cells and the basal lamina. A similar accumulation of viral particles was observed in the lumina of the acinus of submandibular glands. The role of murine leukaemia viruses as potential mediators of aberrations of non-haemopoietic tissues and an alternative mode of viral transmission are discussed.