Electron microscopic study of virus particles in reproductive organs of mice inoculated with leukemia virus (Moloney)

Abstract

Ultra‐thin sections of various reproductive organs of BALB/c mice inoculated with Moloney leukemia virus were examined in the electron microscope. Various tissues such as testis, seminal vesicles, prostate, vas deferens, vas efferens, epididymis and ovary revealed the presence of a considerable number of virus particles similar in appearance to those observed in spleen, thymus and bone marrow of leukemic mice. A large number of virus particles were seen budding into the ducts of vas deferens and vas efferens. These morphological studies may point to the possibility that virus produced by infected cells of the male reproductive organs is released into the semen and under suitable circumstances may be transmitted to normal females at coitus through seminal fluid.