Failure of Interferon to Modify Scrapie in the Mouse

Because of the unusual properties of scrapie agent and doubt as to its being truly a virus, experiments were undertaken to find out if an interferon stimulating agent might influence the development or course of the disease following inoculation of infective material into mice. A group of 12 three-week-old male mice was inoculated intraperitoneally with 0.1 ml. of 5% Statolon made up in sterile 1% sodium bicarbonate solution one week before challenge with 0.1 ml. 10-1 scrapie mouse brain suspension injected intraperitoneally. A second Statolon injection was given the next day and at weekly intervals until the end of the experiment. At the same time six similar mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with the same scrapie material to serve as controls.

Experimental and control animals both developed clinical signs after 7 months, with no difference between the groups as to incubation period or the way in which signs evolved. All animals were examined histologically for confirmation of disease.