[Biochemical characterization of calf sera used in the maintenance of cell cultures used in virology]. / Caracterização bioquímica de soros de bezerros utilizados na manutenção de culturas celulares usadas em virologia.

Eight lots of the calf sera employed to supplement culture media for the cultivation of animal cells, of widespread use in virology obtained from calves above and below six months of age were rated as good or as poor cell growth promoters according to their growth promoting capacity (GPC). Parameters related to macronutrients contained in these serum lots were then evaluated with the purpose of establishing their biochemical profiles. The results obtained can be considered as normal values for apparently healthy animal donors. Fluctuations found between the data of this investigation and those mentioned in the literature for certain biochemical parameters are probably due to the methodology employed, the breed and age of the animals, or even to regional diet. Student's "t" test was applied for the statistical analysis of the results and demonstrated that, as far as serum fractions were concerned, no significant differences occurred between sera rated as good and poor cell growth promoters, taking tc = 2.45. For calf sera from animals above and below six months of age, two tests relating to alfa and beta fractions were significant (t = 2.68 and 2.61 respectively). It was demonstrated that the evaluation of the biochemical parameters mentioned "per se" neither leads to the identification of calf sera presenting good or poor GPC, nor of sera harvested from calves younger or older than six months.

Sorbitol-gelatin and glutamic acid-lactose solutions for stabilization of reference preparations of measles virus.

The work reported here sought to assess the protection afforded by two stabilizing solutions (sorbitol-gelatin and glutamic acid-lactose) in preserving the potency of freeze-dried Schwarz strain measles virus during storage with a view to the production of reference preparations and working lots of virus suspensions. Stabilized virus suspensions and control suspensions were stored at -70 degrees C or were freeze-dried and stored at -20 degrees C, and their potency was determined over a storage period of 21 months. It was found that the sorbitol-gelatin imparted more satisfactory stability (r = +0.18) to the freeze-dried virus suspensions than did the glutamic acid-lactose. The results also indicate that sorbitol-gelatin, used under the conditions of this study, is an effective stabilizer in the preparation of freeze-dried suspensions of Schwarz strain measles virus employed as reference preparation working lots.

Formation of slow-reacting substance by guinea pig immunoglobulins.

The capacity of guinea pig antibodies to mediate the antigen-induced release of slow-reacting substance (SRS) in the rat peritoneal cavity is restricted to IgG2 and, to a lesser extent, to IgG1 populations of immunoglobulin. IgM and homocytotropic antibody of the reaginic type lacked this activity. The process was partially blocked by previous decomplementation of the rats, was not affected by previous reduction of the circulating leukocytes, and was partially suppressed by previous depletion of circulating platelets with an antiserum to rat platelets.