Isolation and analysis of adenovirus type 5 mutants containing deletions in the gene encoding the DNA-binding protein

A genetic system is described which allows the isolation and propagation of adenovirus mutants containing lesions in early region 2A (E2A), the gene encoding the multifunctional adenovirus DNA-binding protein (DBP). A cloned E2A gene was first mutagenized in vitro and then was introduced into the viral genome by in vivo recombination. The E2A mutants were propagated by growth in human cell lines which express an integrated copy of the DBP gene under the control of a dexamethasone-inducible promoter (D. F. Klessig, D. E. Brough, and V. Cleghon, Mol. Cell. Biol. 4:1354-1362, 1984). The protocol was used to construct five adenovirus mutants, Ad5d1801 through Ad5d1805, which contained deletions in E2A. One of the mutants, Ad5d1802, made no detectable DBP and thus represents the first DBP-negative adenovirus mutant, while the four other mutants made truncated DBP-related polypeptides. All five mutants were completely defective for growth and plaque formation on HeLa cell monolayers. Furthermore, the two mutants which were tested, Ad5d1801 and Ad5d1802, did not replicate their DNA in HeLa cells. The mutant Ad5d1804 encoded a truncated DBP-related protein which contained an entire amino-terminal domain derived from the host range mutant Ad5hr404, a variant of Ad5 which multiplies efficiently in monkey cells. While results of a previous study suggest that the amino-terminal domain of DBP could act independently of the carboxyl-terminal domain to enhance late gene expression in monkey cells, the Ad5d1804 polypeptide failed to relieve the block to late viral protein synthesis in monkey cells. The mutant Ad5d1802 was used to study the role of DBP in the regulation of early adenovirus gene expression in infected HeLa cells. These experiments show that E2A mRNA levels are consistently reduced approximately fivefold in Ad5d1802-infected cells, suggesting either a role for DBP in the expression of its own gene or a cis-acting defect caused by the E2A deletion. DBP does not appear to play a significant role in the regulation of adenovirus early regions 1A, 1B, 3, or 4 mRNA levels in infected HeLa cell monolayers since wild-type Ad5- and Ad5d1802-infected cells showed very little difference in the patterns of expression of these genes.

Fetal development in mice exposed to isoflurane

The developmental toxicity of trace (0.006%), subanesthetic (0.06%), and light anesthetic (0.6%) exposure to isoflurane was examined in Swiss/Webster mice. No adverse effects were demonstrated following exposure of dams to 0.006% (n = 26) and 0.06% (n = 27) isoflurane for 4 hr daily on days 6-15 of pregnancy. Exposure to 0.6% isoflurane (n = 23) for the same period resulted in significantly decreased fetal weight, decreased skeletal ossification, minor hydronephrosis, and increased renal pelvic cavitation. The incidence of cleft palate also was significantly increased, abnormalities occurring in 12.1% of fetuses and affecting 11 of 23 litters. This incidence was considerably higher than that of the combined treatment and colony control groups (0.75%) and those that we have found in previous experiments with this mouse strain following exposure to halothane (1.2%) or enflurane (1.9%).

Effects of subchronic intermittent exposure to nitrous oxide in Swiss Webster mice

Swiss Webster mice were treated to determine whether the inhalational anesthetic, nitrous oxide (N2O), causes organ toxicity and enhances anesthetic defluorination. Two-hundred and sixteen young adult male and female mice were exposed to room air or to 5,000 (.5%), 50,000 (5%) or 500,000 (50%) N2O for four hours per day, five days per week for periods up to fourteen weeks. Body weight was measured twice weekly throughout the experiment. Liver, kidney, spleen and testis were weighed and examined histologically along with brain, stomach, seminal vesicle, and ovary for evidence of drug induced damage. Blood smears were examined microscopically and complete blood count, differential white cell count, and reticulocyte and platelet counts were performed. In addition, liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 content and the rates of defluorination of enflurane and methoxyflurane were determined. The maximum tolerated concentration of N2O was approximately 5000,000 ppm. Even at this high dose, there was no evidence of organ damage. Following N2O exposure, neither the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 content nor the rates of anesthetic defluorination were increased; the rate of in vitro inorganic fluoride production was greater for methoxyflurane than for enflurane. Since there was no evidence of specific organ toxicity or of enzyme induction or inhibition, it was concluded that N2O is a comparatively nontoxic inhalational anesthetic under the conditions of this study.

Restricted changes in the adenovirus DNA-binding protein that lead to extended host range or temperature-sensitive phenotypes

Human adenovirus fails to multiply efficiently in monkey cells owing to a block to late viral gene expression. Ad2hr400 through Ad2hr403 are a set of host range (hr) mutants which were selected for their ability to readily grow in these cells at 37 degrees C. The mutations responsible for this extended host range have previously been mapped to the 5' portion of the gene encoding the 72-kilodalton DNA-binding protein (DBP). DNA sequence analyses indicate that all four hr mutants contain the same alteration at coding triplet 130, which changes a histidine codon to a tyrosine codon. These results extend those of Anderson et al. (J. Virol. 48:31-39, 1983), which suggested that only this change in the DBP amino acid sequence can expand adenovirus host range to monkey cells. The hr phenotype does not appear to require phosphorylation of this tyrosine residue, since no phosphotyrosine was detected in DBP isolated from Ad2hr400-infected monkey cells. The hr mutants Ad2hr400 through Ad2hr403, however, are cold sensitive for growth in monkey cells. The mutant Ad2ts400, which was derived from Ad2hr400, represents a second class of hr mutants which can grow efficiently in monkey cells at 32.5 degrees C. The cold-resistant hr mutation of Ad2ts400 has previously been mapped to the 5' region of the DBP gene (map units 63.6 through 66). DNA sequence analysis of this region shows that this mutant contains the original hr alteration at coding triplet 130 as well as a second alteration at coding triplet 148, which changes an alanine codon to a valine codon. We suspect that the alterations at amino acids 130 and 148 change the structure of the amino-terminal domain of the DBP, allowing it to better interact with monkey cell components required for late viral gene expression. Ad2ts400 also contains a temperature-sensitive mutation which has previously been mapped to the 3' portion of the DBP gene (map units 61.3 through 63.6). Sequence analysis of this region indicates that the DBP coding triplet 413 has been altered. This change from a serine codon to a proline codon is the same alteration reported in the previously sequenced DBP mutants Ad5ts125 (W. Kruijer et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 9:4439-4457, 1981) and Ad5ts107 (W. Kruijer et al., Virology 124:425-433, 1983). Thus it appears that only a very limited number of changes in either the 5' or the 3' portion of the DBP gene can give rise to the hr or temperature-sensitive phenotypes, respectively.

Halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane MAC in pregnant and nonpregnant female and male mice and rats

The MAC of halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane was determined using the tail-clamp technique in pregnant female, nonpregnant female, and male Swiss Webster mice (n = 216) and Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 112). Mean MAC values (+/-SD) for halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane in mice were 0.95 +/- 0.07%, 1.34 +/- 0.10%, and 1.95 +/- 0.16%, respectively; values in rats were 1.03 +/- 0.04%, 1.46 +/- 0.06%, and 2.21 +/- 0.08%, respectively, all significantly higher than in mice. Neither the sex of the animals nor whether female animals were pregnant influenced the results.

Reproduction and fetal development in rats exposed to nitrous oxide

The effects of 24 hours of nitrous oxide exposure on reproductive indices and fetal development were examined in Sprague-Dawley rats. Four different experiments employing four concentrations of nitrous oxide--0.75%, 7.5%, 25% and 75%--established that the threshold of toxicity was greater than 25%. At 75% nitrous oxide there was a significant increase in early and late resorptions, and a consistent teratogenic effect (e.g., runts, ocular malformations, limb deformities). Neither the stress of shipping dams while pregnant nor the withholding of food during nitrous oxide exposure resulted in additional adverse effects. Exposure to 25% nitrous oxide was associated with increased deoxyuridine suppression values; however, adverse reproductive effects were not seen at this nitrous oxide concentration. The results of this and other studies which have examined the reproductive and teratogenic effects of nitrous oxide do not contraindicate its use in operating rooms nor, when necessary, as an anesthetic for pregnant surgical patients.

Liver function and anesthetic metabolism in rats with chronic renal impairment

Patients and rats with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) anesthetized with enflurane do not have significantly greater increases in postoperative serum inorganic fluoride levels when compared with subjects with normal renal function. The authors chose to investigate whether this observation is due to decreased anesthetic metabolism, secondary to the renal disease. Thus, male Fischer 344 rats with surgically induced CRI were studied to determine the effect of severe renal impairment: first, on in vivo hepatic function as measured by a serum liver enzyme profile, and second, on in vitro hepatic metabolism as indicated by microsomal anesthetic defluorination rates and cytochrome P-450 levels. Rats were operated on in two stages, 1 week apart, and assigned to one of three groups. Group 1 rats had a capsule stripping of each kidney. Group 2 rats had a capsule stripping of one kidney and then a nephrectomy of the other. Group 3 rats had the upper and lower poles of one kidney excised and then a nephrectomy of the other. There was no change in renal function in rats from Group 1 and 2. Chronic renal insufficiency in Group 3 rats was manifested by threefold elevations in serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels and reciprocal decreases in clearances. After 89-98 days, blood was obtained for a serum liver enzyme profile and rats were killed for determination of in vitro hepatic metabolism. There were no changes suggestive of hepatic damage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The function(s) provided by the adenovirus-specified, DNA-binding protein required for viral late gene expression is independent of the role of the protein in viral DNA replication

The adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) host range mutant Ad2hr400 grows efficiently in cultured monkey cells at 37 degrees C, but is cold sensitive for plaque formation and late gene expression at 32.5 degrees C. After nitrous acid mutagenesis of an Ad2hr400 stock, cold-resistant variants were selected in CV1 monkey cells at 32.5 degrees C. One such variant, Ad2ts400, was also temperature sensitive (ts) for growth in both CV1 and HeLa cells. Marker rescue analysis has been used to show that the two phenotypes, cold resistant and temperature sensitive, are due to two independent mutations, each of which resides in a different segment of the gene encoding the 72-kilodalton DNA binding protein (DBP). The cold-resistant mutation (map coordinates 63.6 to 66) is a host range alteration that enhances the ability of the virus to express late genes and grow productively in monkey cells at 32.5 degrees C. The temperature-sensitive mutation is in the same complementation group and maps to the same segment of the DBP gene (map coordinates 61.3 to 63.6) as the well-characterized DBP mutant Ad5ts125. Like Ad5ts125, Ad2ts400 is unable to replicate viral DNA or to properly shut off early mRNA expression at the nonpermissive temperature. Two sets of experiments with Ad2ts400 suggest that DBP contains separate functional domains. First, when CV1 cells are coinfected at the nonpermissive temperature with Ad2 plus Ad2ts400 (Ad2 allows DNA replication and entry into, but not completion of, the late phase of infection), normal late gene expression and productive growth occur. Second, temperature shift experiments show that, although DNA replication is severely restricted at the nonpermissive temperature in ts400-infected monkey cells, late gene expression occurs normally. These results indicate that the DBP activity required for normal late gene expression in monkey cells is functional even when the DBP's DNA replication activity is disrupted.

Halothane inhibits metabolism of enflurane in Fischer 344 rats

The authors investigated the effect of prior administration of halothane upon the metabolism of enflurane. Twenty-four, one-year-old male, Fischer 344 rats were assigned randomly to four anesthetic exposure groups. Groups 1 and 2 were controls exposed only to halothane and enflurane, respectively. Group 3 was exposed for 1 h to 0.3% halothane, followed by 2 h of 1% enflurane. Group 4 was exposed for 1 h to 1% halothane and then to 2 h of 1% enflurane. Blood samples were taken prior to, immediately following, and 1, 24, and 48 h after anesthetic exposure. Serum was assayed for inorganic fluoride (F-), SGOT and SGPT. Twenty-four-hour urinary collections were assayed for F excretion. Group 1 rats exposed to halothane alone had the lowest peak mean serum F- (5.0 microM). Group 2 rats exposed to enflurane alone had the highest serum F concentration 4 h after anesthesia (18.7 microM). Peak serum F in Group 3 rats (9.5 microM) was significantly lower than in Group 2 rats (enflurane control). In Group 4 rats, serum F- was not significantly different from Group 1 rats (halothane control) at any time. In the first 24 h after anesthetic exposure, urinary F- excretion in Groups 2 and 3 was significantly higher than in Groups 1 and 4. This study demonstrated that prior exposure to halothane reduced the metabolism of enflurane; previous work suggested that this was due to an interaction of halothane with hepatic cytochrome P-450.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Thymidine and methionine syntheses in pregnant rats exposed to nitrous oxide

The dose-dependent effects of nitrous oxide on thymidine and methionine syntheses were investigated in pregnant rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed on day 9 of gestation to 0.75%, 7.5%, or 75% nitrous oxide for 24 h. Immediately and 72 h after exposure, a deoxyuridine-suppression test was performed on maternal bone marrow and a methionine synthetase assay was performed on maternal liver to assess thymidine and methionine syntheses, respectively. Inhibition of thymidine synthesis was seen after exposure to 7.5% and 75%, but not after 0.75%, nitrous oxide. Recovery was complete 72 h after exposure. Methionine synthetase activity was abolished at all concentrations of nitrous oxide tested and did not return to control values 72 h after exposure. Fetal weight and gross appearance were not affected by exposure to nitrous oxide; however, the observed decrease in thymidine and methionine syntheses after nitrous oxide exposure may account for its teratogenic effects.

Germ cell studies in mice after prolonged exposure to nitrous oxide

Male and female Swiss Webster (SW) mice, age 13 to 14 weeks, were exposed by inhalation for 4 hr per day, 5 days per week, for 14 weeks, to either room air, 0.5% nitrous oxide, 5.0% nitrous oxide, or 50% nitrous oxide. Murine germ cells were examined for evidence of injury after this exposure. A group of male mice were treated with methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) as a positive control for sperm abnormalities while a group of female mice were treated with 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) as a positive control for oocyte destruction. There were no significant differences among the four inhalation exposure groups in testes weight, percentage of abnormally shaped sperm, sperm count, or histologic appearance of the testes; the mean percentage (+/- SE) of abnormal sperm ranged from 8.9 +/- 2.4 (5.0% nitrous oxide) to 13.5 +/- 0.5 (50% nitrous oxide) with a concurrent control value of 10.4 +/- 2.3%. In the positive control experiment, 25.2 +/- 4.1% of sperm from mice treated with MMS were abnormal compared with 2.5 +/- 0.3% of sperm from mice treated with saline (p less than 0.001), indicating that sperm of SW mice are sensitive to chemical damage. There was no significant difference between the mean number of oocytes in mice treated with 50% nitrous oxide (33.3 +/- 14.4) and in control mice (29.8 +/- 8.0). In the positive control experiment, mice treated with 3-MC had significantly fewer (p less than 0.001) primordial oocytes, 67.2 +/- 19.5 compared with control mice, 222.4 +/- 21.9, indicating that this strain is sensitive to chemical damage of the ovary. Thus, murine germ cells showed no evidence of toxic effects due to prolonged exposure to nitrous oxide.

Metabolism by rat hepatic microsomes of fluorinated ether anesthetics following ethanol consumption

The possibility that the metabolism of volatile inhalational anesthetics is altered following chronic ethanol consumption was investigated in male Fischer 344 rats. The hepatic microsomal defluorination rates of methoxyflurane, enflurane, and sevoflurane were determined for pair-fed rats receiving ethanol with normal caloric or with 50% of normal caloric intake. For comparison, the effects of phenobarbital treatment on anesthetic defluorination rates also were examined. Fourteen days of ad libitum consumption of 16% ethanol resulted in maximal defluorination rates of the above anesthetics. No overt signs of ethanol toxicity were observed. Ethanol-treated rats with a normal caloric intake had significantly increased microsomal defluorination rates per mg protein compared with pair-fed control rats as follows: methoxyflurane, 190% of control; enflurane, 298% of control; and sevoflurane, 301% of control. Ethanol-treated animals with 50% of normal caloric intake showed similar elevations in microsomal defluorination rates when compared with pair-fed controls. Phenobarbital treatment significantly increased the rate of methoxyflurane defluorination (673% of control), whereas the rates of sevoflurane defluorination (127% of control) and enflurane defluorination (86% of control) were not altered significantly. Phenobarbital treatment increased the microsomal content of cytochrome P-450, while ethanol treatment did not. This study demonstrated that regardless of total caloric intake, chronic ethanol consumption increases defluorination of inhalation anesthetics in Fischer 344 rats. It also illustrated that the two enzyme-inducing agents are unique with respect to the degree to which they enhance anesthetic defluorination.

Reproduction and fetal development in mice chronically exposed to nitrous oxide

The effects of exposure to nitrous oxide on reproductive indices, fetal development, and male fertility were examined in Swiss/ICR mice. In experiment I, female mice were exposed for 4 hours per day on days 6-15 of pregnancy, to 0.5% (5,000 ppm), 5.0% (50,000 ppm), or 50% (500,000 ppm) nitrous oxide. Control mice were untreated, exposed to compressed air, or treated with retinoic acid on day 8 of gestation. In experiment II, male mice were treated, as above, for 9 weeks and then mated nightly for 7 nights to untreated, virgin females. In experiment I, 1,761 fetuses from 154 dams were examined and found to be without evidence of adverse nitrous oxide treatment effects. In experiment II there were no differences among the groups in the ability of males to impregnate females or in litter size, fetal wastage, or fetal size. When we compare nitrous oxide with other inhalation anesthetics we have studied employing a similar protocol, we find the order of reproductive toxicity to be: halothane greater than enflurane greater than methoxyflurane greater than nitrous oxide. None of the agents were toxic, however, at the trace concentrations usually found in operating rooms.

Deuterated methoxyflurane anesthesia and renal function in Fischer 344 rats

Inorganic fluoride (F-) production and renal function were assessed in six groups of Fischer 344 rats administered either methoxyflurane (MOF) or deuterated methoxyflurane (d4-MOF). One untreated and one phenobarbital (PB)-treated group were exposed for two hours to either air, 0.5 per cent (V/v) MOF, or 0.5 per cent (v/v) d4-MOF. Serum and urinary F- and serum urea nitrogen and creatinine were measured. Urine volume and urinary F- excretion were only slightly greater among MOF than among d4-MOF exposed animals. Pretreatment with PB, however, greatly enhanced F- production in MOF-exposed animals leading to marked renal impairment but only slightly enhanced F- production in d4-MOF animals leading to mild renal impairment. Thus, only in PB-pretreated animals could a biologically significant difference in nephrotoxicity be demonstrated for MOF and d4-MOF.

Renal function in Fischer 344 rats with chronic renal impairment after administration of enflurane and gentamicin

To assess the potential for producing nephrotoxicity in rats with abnormal renal function, the renal effects of enflurane or halothane anesthesia, 1 MAC for two hours, were examined in six groups of six Fischer 344 rats each with surgically induced chronic renal impairment. As an additional predisposing factor, gentamicin, 5 mg/kg/day, was administered for one week before and for one week after anesthesia to three of the groups, one anesthetized with enflurane, one anesthetized with halothane, and one unanesthetized. No significant change in renal function could be attributed to either anesthetic agent. Serum inorganic fluoride levels four hours and 24 hours after enflurane anesthesia were similar in the gentamicin-treated and the non-gentamicin-treated groups. Clinically small but statistically significant increases in serum creatinine concentration and urinary flow occurred in all three gentamicin-treated groups during the period of treatment. Anesthesia with either enflurane or halothane in rats with chronic renal impairment treated with gentamicin did not result in additional renal damage.

Metabolism by rat hepatic microsomes of fluorinated ether anesthetics following isoniazid administration

The possibility that enflurane defluorination is increased following treatment with isoniazid was investigated in male Fischer 344 rats. The effects of various isoniazid dosage regimens on the hepatic microsomal defluorination rates of enflurane were compared with those of several other ether anesthetics, and the conditions for production of maximal enflurane defluorination rates were determined. Seven to ten days of treatment with 50 mg/kg/day isoniazid (Nydrazid) resulted in maximal rates of defluorination of methoxyflurane, enflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane with no overt sign of toxicity. Compared with saline treatment of control rats, isoniazid increased defluorination of enflurane 370 per cent, methoxyflurane 259 per cent, sevoflurane 283 per cent, and isoflurane 168 per cent. Previous studies have shown that while the enzyme inducer phenobarbital increased in vitro rates of methoxyflurane defluorination approximately 1000 per cent, the rate of enflurane defluorination remained unchanged or increased by 100 per cent at most. In this study, enhanced hepatic microsomal defluorination was not associated with an increase in cytochrome P-450 per mg protein. Anesthetic defluorination rates were not altered by treatment with chlorobutanol, the preservative contained in Nydrazid.

Liver dysfunction in Pennsylvania's multitransfused hemophiliacs

Transaminase values [alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST)] and markers for hepatitis B were serially determined in 558 hemophiliacs exposed to blood products. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) persistent for over 12 months was present in 6% of the patients. Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) was noted in 90% of the 259 patients treated with factor VIII or IX concentrates but in only 49% of the 43 patients treated with fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or cryoprecipitate. Persistently abnormal transaminase values were noted in 31% of the patients treated with commercial concentrates but in only one (2%) of the patients exposed to cryoprecipitate or FFP. This difference continued even when the two groups of patients were matched for the amount of blood products, up to 50,000 units, which they had received in the study period. In the concentrate-treated patients, no correlation could be found between transaminase values and the number of units of factor VIII or IX they had received during the six years of the study (1973-1978).

Metabolic and toxicologic studies with enflurane in Swiss/ICR mice

Swiss/ICR mice were tested to determine whether the volatile ether anesthetic, enflurane, causes induction of anesthetic defluorination and organ toxicity. Mice were exposed in utero and postnatally to 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 volumes percent enflurane vapor. Body weight was measured at frequent intervals throughout the experiment. Animals were sacrificed at 73 days of age and liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 content and the rate of defluorination of enflurane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane ans sevoflurane were determined. In addition, the liver, kidney and testis were weighed and examined histologically for drug induced damage. The maximum tolerated dose of enflurane delivered over a twelve week period was determined to be 0.5 volumes percent for four hours a day, five days a week. Even at this high dose there was no evidence in either sex of liver, kidney or testicular damage. Following enflurane exposure, neither the liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 content nor the rate of anesthetic defluorination was increased. The rate of in vitro inorganic fluoride production per unit time was greatest for methoxyflurane, and approximately equal for enflurane, isoflurane and sevoflurane. Since there was no evidence of enzyme induction or specific organ toxicity, it was concluded that enflurane is a comparatively nontoxic volatile anesthetic under conditions of this study.

Comment on the rotational state dependence of indirect photodissociation of a polyatomic molecule

The rotational state dependence of indirect photodissociation has been examined in the light of some recent developments in the theory of radiationless transitions in rotating molecules. A simple argument based on projection operators leads to the prediction of sequential kinetics from an initial singlet state through an intermediate triplet bound state and on to a final dissociative state. The results indicate that as long as the geometry of the molecule in the triplet state is not very different from that of the singlet state, only a very small rotational dependence will show up in the singlet state radiationless lifetime, in spite of the fact that the overall dissociation constitutes a large geometry change.

Enflurane has no effect on haemopoiesis in mice

Male and female Swiss/ICR mice were exposed to 0.3% enflurane in air, 4 h per day, 5 days per week for 52 weeks. A control group was exposed to air alone. After 52 weeks, all animals were sacrificed and peripheral blood and bone marrow samples were examined for alterations in haemopoiesis. In general, there was no difference between treated and control groups.

Very low energy cross sections for collision-induced rotational relaxation of I(2) seeded in a supersonic free jet

We report a study of rotational relaxation of I(2) seeded in He, Ne, and Ar free jets. It is inferred that in the very low collision energy range covered by these experiments the cross section for rotational relaxation is independent of energy.

Hepatitis B virus, hepatitis A virus and persistently elevated aminotransferases in hemophiliacs

To determine the exposure to hepatitis A and hepatitis B viruses (HAV, HBV) following intravenous replacement therapy in patients with classic hemophilia and to assess the role of these viruses in persistently elevated aminotransferases, sera were studied from 136 patients from 9 months to 67 years of age were transfused with either single-donor cryoprecipitate (CRYO) or Antihemophilic Factor Concentrate (AHF) for periods ranging from a few months to 15 years. Serologic evidence of past or present infection with HBV was detected in 90% of all 136 patients and in 85% of those 34 patients 10 years of age or younger. Sixty-four percent of those with serologic markers of hepatitis B had high titers of antibody to the hepatitis B surface antigen and low titers of antibody to the hepatitis B core antigen. These findings are consistent with the known high frequency of early exposure to HBV in hemophiliacs receiving replacement therapy and with recovery from these hepatitis B infections. Sixteen percent of these patients had persistently elevated aminotransferase levels; HBV could not be implicated as the cause of the enzyme elevations in most of these cases.