Handbuch der Virusforschung - II. Ergänzungsband [antikvár]

Technic and Application of Roller Tube Cultures. By A. E. Feller, M.D. Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine and Assistant Professor of Medicine. The School of Medicine, Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. Introduction. The roller tube method of tissue culture permits the prolonged cultivation of tissue in the active state without explantation, and, when virus is added to the culture, offers a means of studying the virus-cell relationship for extended periods. The tissue may be readily observed in situ. The method employs tissue fragments which are fastened to the inner wall of a test tube by imbedding the tissue in a plasma coagulum. A small amount of nutrient material in the liquid state is added. The culture is then rotated continuously in the horizontal position, alternately bathing the tissue in nutrient fluid and exposing it to the gaseous content of the tube. Fresh nutrient fluid is added when desired, and the gaseous environment of the tissue can be controlled. The culture may be infected with virus either when it is originally assembled or at any subsequent time. Nutrient fluid or bits of tissue may be removed for examination at will. However, the apparatus for continuous rotation of the culture requires considerable care and attention, and meticulous aseptic technic is necessary to avoid bacterial contamination when changing nutrient fluid and gaseous content of the culture. There is no certain explanation for the more prolonged activity of the tissues in roller tube cultures as contrasted with 'cultures by "classical" methods. It is possible that alternate exposure of the tissue to fluid and gaseous environment is favorable to the metabolism of the cells, or that the continuous distribution of metabolic and nutritive substances is advantageous. The roller tube method of tissue culture is not a new technic, but its use for the cultivation of viruses is a relatively recent development. Carrel (1) suggested the method in 1913, Lôwenstadt (2) employed it in 1925, and subsequently the technic was modified by Carrel (3), Gey (4), Gey and Gey (5), and Lewis (6). Gey and Bang (7) used roller tube cultures for the propagation of the virus of lymphopathia venerea in 1939. In 1940, Feller, Enders, and Weller (8) reported the cultivation of vaccinia virus by the roller tube method and carried out studies on the coexistence of the virus and living cells over extended periods. The technic, however, has not been widely used, despite its apparent advantages. In the present communication, the technic of roller tube tissue oulture will be described and certain modifications of this method will be noted. In addition, a review of certain studies which have employed the roller tube method will be presented together with possible problems for which the technic appears to be Hdb. d. Vlrusforsohg. (2. Erg.-Bd.) 1