Immunologic Evidence for Horizontal Transmission of MTV

Abstract

Abstract Adult BALB/c female mice raised in the laboratory colony possess spleen cells capable of significant cytotoxic activity against target mammary tumor virus-(MTV) induced mammary tumor cells. If BALB/c females are raised in isolation, their spleen cells are not reactive. Reactivity can be induced in isolated females by caging them with a mouse neonatally infected with MTV. These data provide immunologic evidence for the horizontal transmission of MTV.