The production of bovine interferon in foetal and adult organ cultures and in leukocytes

Interferon response in bovine foetal and adult organ cultures after induction in vitro with Radom velogenic strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV-R) was studied. Interferon was produced in foetal organ cultures derived from skin, liver, heart, lungs, kidneys, tongue and also from amniotic membranes and placenta; however, no correlation between the gestational age and levels of interferon produced by different tissues was observed. In comparison with foetal tissues the organ cultures derived from liver, heart, lungs, kidneys and spleen of cows produced higher interferon titers. In contrast to organ cultures, the interferon response of in vitro cultivated leukocytes isolated from spleen and liver of foetuses and cows was comparable. The antiviral substance both from foetal and adult animals was characterized as interferon by standard criteria; however, higher acid lability of "foetal" interferon in comparison with that of "adult" was observed.