EFFECT OF ETHANOL ON MOUSE HEPATITIS VIRUS-INDUCED CYTOTOXICITY

The effect of ethanol on cells infected with mouse hepatitis virus (MH V) was investigated. After MHV infection of competent cells, NCTC1469, ethanol was added to the culture at various concentrations, and the v iability of cells was measured using -(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-di phenyltetrazolium bromide. To examine the possible involvement of the ethanol metabolite, acetaldehyde, alcohol dehydrogenase activity was m easured in NCTC1469 cells. Ethanol alone did not show cytotoxicity aga inst NCTC1469 cells at concentrations from 0.125% to 2%. After infecti on with MHV, the viability of cells decreased, and this decrease was f urther enhanced, dose-dependently, by the addition of ethanol. The act ivity of alcohol dehydrogenase in the cells was below the detectable l evel. The same phenomena were also demonstrated in cells infected with influenza virus and Herpes simplex virus. These results demonstrate t hat ethanol enhances MHV-mediated cytotoxicity; this exacerbation of c ytotoxicity by ethanol is suggested to be an effect common to cytopath ic virus-infected cells.