Several DNAs derived from Marek's disease virus-infected cells and tissues were tested for in vitro infectivity and for the ability to activate avian endogenous type C virus. The DNA isolated from tumour tissue, peripheral blood buffy coat cells, MDV-infected tissue cultures, lymphoblastoid cell lines and feather follicle epithelium cells from MDV-infected birds elicited a negative response in transfection assays. The MDV DNAs isolated did not activate the endogenous type C virus from cell cultures derived from the C, I and M chicken lines. Activation was observed only in one experiment in the early period after transfection with MDV DNA. The treatment with DNase destroyed this MDV DNA activity, and lambda phage DNA and cell DNAs did not activate the endogenous viruses. Repeated experiments failed to confirm the early activation of endogenous viruses.