Abstract
Summary
T1 and T3 coliphages and D29 and D32 mycobacteriophages were injected into pregnant rats. Examination of foetuses and foetal fluids showed presence of phage, which demonstrates that intact particles of relatively large size can cross the placental barrier in the rat. Phage injected into maternal blood rarely reached the embryo. However, when phage was inoculated into the uterine lumen, passage to the foetus was demonstrated in three-fourths of test samples using coliphage, and in one-third of samples using mycobacteriophage. It appears that large concentrations of phage in the vicinity of yolksac splanchnopleure are required before passage becomes apparent; this suggests that passage of similar particles from mother to foetus does not frequently occur in nature.
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