Rae Allen

Role of brown fat in pathogenesis of rabies in insectivorous bats (Tadarida b. mexicana.

Summary 1. Studies on the progression of peripherally inoculated rabies virus in Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida b. mexicana) suggest that the brown (hibernating) fat plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of rabies in this animal. 2. Brown fat may serve as a depot for the storage of virus in symptomless carriers of the rabies virus. 3. These studies provide another example of selective viral lipotropism.

Influence of Pregnancy and Cortisone Treatment on Brown Adipose Tissue in Bats.

Summary The interscapular brown adipose tissue of the bat (Tadarida b. mexicana) undergoes significant fluctuations in lipid content during the reproductive cycle. There is a progressive accumulation of lipid in the brown fat cells, beginning in early pregnancy and reaching a maximum level late in the gestation period. In contrast, during and shortly after parturition the brown adipose tissue is essentially deplete of lipid, while 2 weeks following delivery lipid can again be found in the brown fat cells. Cortisone treatment of non-gravid bats results in increased lipid accumulation in the brown fat similar to that observed in the pregnant animal. A gradual increase in weight of brown fat parallels lipid hypertrophy. The role of adrenal activity in directing alterations in the lipid content of the interscapular brown adipose tissue of bats during the reproductive cycle is discussed.

Relationship of Bat Salivary Gland Virus to St. Louis Encephalitis Group of Viruses.

Summary A virus recently isolated from the salivary glands of Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida mexicana) appears to be a new member of the JE-WN-SLE-MVE group of viruses. On the basis of the results of complement fixation tests it appears that the salivary gland virus of bats is more closely related to the West Nile virus than to other members of the group.