Possible latent infection with herpes simplex virus in the mouse eye.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) was isolated from organ cultures of anterior segments of the eyes of mice inoculated with virus on the snout or directly onto the cornea at least 5 weeks previously. The frequency of isolation of the virus was not decreased by treatment of the animals with acyclovir, suggesting that the virus is latent by the criteria usually applied. Peroxidase-antiperoxidase staining of organ cultures that had shed virus showed that viral antigens were predominantly present in the anterior uvea. Inoculation of mouse eye anterior segments in vitro showed that this tissue was the most susceptible to productive infection. These results suggest the possibility that HSV can establish a latent infection in tissues of the anterior segment of the mouse eye.
Claoué
C M
CM
University of Bristol Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medical Sciences, University Walk, U.K.
Hodges
T J
TJ
Darville
J M
JM
Hill
T J
TJ
Blyth
W A
WA
Easty
D L
DL
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000382:microbiology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005123:Eye / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000212:Acyclovir