Protective Effect of Pre-Irradiation on Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Infection in Mice

300 r total body x-irradiation given to adult mice one to 4 days prior to intracerebral or intraperitoneal infection with LCM virus, produced a marked increase in survival and diminution in objective evidence of the infection. 2. The growth curve of the virus after intracerebral inoculation was identical in the irradiated and non-irradiated groups. After intraperitoneal infection with a viscerotropic strain there appeared to be a slightly lower virus titer in the pooled organs of the irradiated as compared with the non-irradiated mice.