Isolated mouse pancreatic islets were infected in vitro with two strains of Coxsackie B4 virus – a tissue culture – adapted strain and a mouse pancreas-adapted strain. Within 48 h of infection changes had occurred in the biochemical activities of islets infected with the mouse pancreas-adapted strain of virus. Basal insulin release was increased two-fold in these islets, while glucose-induced insulin secretion remained unchanged. Insulin biosynthesis was greatly reduced at a sti, mulatory concentration of glucose (20 raM), thus leading to a reduced insulin content in these islets. These effects are of importance because they demonstrate that certain strains of Coxsackie B4 virus, like encephalo-myocarditis virus, may selectively alter B-cell function in vitro.

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