Latent HSV-I infection in rat vestibular ganglia.
The vestibular ganglia of rats having no clinical symptoms after inoculation of HSV-I were examined by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in order to prove latent HSV-I infection. The rats were divided into two groups: one inoculated with HSV-I into the middle ear cavity (m.i. group), and the other into the peritoneal space (i.p. group). In the m.i. group, 67% of the vestibular ganglia on the inoculated side and 0% on the opposite side were positive. In the i.p. group, 60% of the vestibular ganglia on both sides were positive. These data indicate that HSV-I can establish latent infection in the vestibular ganglia. Furthermore, we assumed that reactivation of HSV-I genomes in the vestibular ganglia might lead to disorders of the vestibular system.
Shimogori
H
H
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
Sekitani
T
T
Koyanagi
Y
Y
Yamamoto
N
N
D000818:Animals; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013997:Time Factors; D014725:Vestibular Nerve / Q000382:microbiology*; D000160:Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases / Q000382:microbiology