title: Mouse thymic virus infection: ultrastructural and immunocytochemical studies of infected thymus cells.
abstract: Only limited attention has been paid to the cell population that is affected in the course of Mouse Thymic Virus (MTV) infection. In the present study, thymic cells of newborn mice infected with MTV were examined for general ultrastructural and immunocytochemical characteristics. The earliest sign of infection was detected 5 days after inoculation. Lymphocytes, epithelial reticular cells, macrophages, and lymphoepithelial cell complexes (thymic nurse cells) were affected. Viral particles and filamentous structures were present in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm of these cells. At more advanced stages of cellular necrosis, 6 to 7 days post-infection, cytoplasmic granulation and loss in definition of cytoplasmic organelles became apparent. This was followed by nuclear degradation and cellular aggregation. The selective effect of MTV on lymphocyte subpopulations was also observed. Two populations of infected lymphocytes were identified by single and double immunogold labelling employing monoclonal antibodies and different sizes of gold particles. CD4+8+ and CD4+8- lymphocytes were found to be selectively lysed by MTV.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche en Virologie, Institut Armand-Frappier, Laval, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Athanassious
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lussier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000648:ultrastructure*