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Virus-like particles in brain tumours induced by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea in rats

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Summary

Two unusual, intracytoplasmic structures, resembling viruses, are described in experimental gliomas which were induced transplacentally on the 15th day of gestation in BD-IX rats by a single intravenous injection of 30 mg of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea per kg of body weight. These structures are tubules within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum and large coated vesicles in the Golgi region. The tubules are of indeterminate length and have inner and outer walls of 9–11 nm and 20–22 nm respectively. The large coated vesicles are 80–90 nm in diameter and their outer surface is covered by regular, equidistant spikes of 12–15 nm in length. The vesicles are closely related to the Golgi complexes, from which they appear to originate. The intracisternal tubules and large coated vesicles share certain morphological features both with viruses and with normal cell organelles. The origin and significance of these structures are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuropathology, The Bland-Sutton Institute of Pathology, London

    P. L. Lantos

  2. Department of Neurological Studies, The Middlesex Hospital Medical School, W1P 7PP, London, UK

    P. L. Lantos

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Lantos, P.L. Virus-like particles in brain tumours induced by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea in rats. Acta Neuropathol 29, 211–222 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00685256

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00685256

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