ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF MICE WITH CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE - AN ASSESSMENTUSING PERITONEAL EFFLUENTS

Antiviral activity (AVA) determined by the inhibition of the cytopathi c effect (CPE) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) on mice fibroblasts , was measured in the peritoneal effluent of mice. Four groups of anim als (each group numbering 30 mice) were studied. Group 1 consisted of sham operated mice and served as the control group. Group 2 underwent implantation of silastic matter (of which the Tenckhoff catheter is ma de). In group 3, chronic renal failure was induced. Group 4 comprised those mice in which both chronic renal failure was induced and silasti c matter implanted. Optical density readings, directly related to the inhibition of CPE Mere 0.66 +/- 0.01, 0.59 +/- 0.08, 0.85 +/- 0.06 and 0.86 +/- 0.13 for groups 1,2, 3 and 4, respectively (p <0.01 for grou ps 1 and 2 versus 3 and 4). Virus control readings indicative of the C PE of VSV without the presence of peritoneal effluent were 0.58 +/- 0. 07, not significantly different from those obtained in groups 1 and 2. They were, however, significantly below values from groups 3 and 4 (p <0.05). These data show that AVA is undetectable in the peritoneal ef fluent of normal mice. Chronic renal failure produces an enhancement o f AVA. Silastic matter (Tenckhoff catheter) implantation does not play a role in the production of AVA.