Abstract
Summary
Studies were carried out to measure the effect on Friend leukemia in BALB/c mice of synthetic double-stranded RNA, Poly I:C (rI:rC), given in different prophylactic and therapeutic regimens. The effect of Poly I:C was strongly influenced by the time of initiating treatment, the amount of drug given, and the number and frequency of doses administered. Necrosis and hemorrhage of the spleen were among the principal pathologic effects of Friend leukemia in mice and these were markedly reduced in those instances in which drug treatment decreased splenomegaly. When administered prior to virus, cortisone greatly increased splenomegaly in Friend leukemia both alone and in combination with Poly I:C. The effect of Poly I:C administration before virus was strongly dose-related and a significant beneficial effect was obtained when the amount of drug was reduced to 4 μg. In toto, Poly I:C was not strikingly beneficial in altering the events in experimental Friend leukemia. The complex and multifaceted relationships between virus and drug and their administration will require detailed examination before an optimal prophylactic or therapeutic regimen can be derived.
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