Fig. 5.

Giant cells after mCMV infection. DIC images are shown on the left, and on the right are shown the same field with fluorescent microscopy for detecting GFP.A, B, Three days after infection of a mixed neuronal–glial culture, a small group of cells are tightly packed together but do not show characteristics of a giant cell.C, D, A giant cell appears to be composed of many other cells fused together and is seen with a few cells attached on the outside to the left. InC, the DIC image shows a relatively smooth outer membrane (arrows). Within the giant cell, a heterogeneous GFP-mediated fluorescence is seen, suggesting that there is not total cytoplasmic continuity at this point. Scale bar, 16 μm.