title: In situ hybridization analysis for herpes simplex virus nucleic acids in Alzheimer disease.
abstract: Histological sections of brain from patients showing evidence of advanced pathology of Alzheimer disease (AD) were examined for the presence of herpes simplex type-1 (HSV-1) nucleic acids by a sensitive in-situ hybridization technique. Samples from neurologically normal patients were examined in parallel. Sensitivity of the assay was verified by the detection of HSV-1 nucleic acids in neurons of trigeminal ganglia taken from cases of AD and normal controls. This indicated that the hybridization reaction was sufficiently sensitive to detect latent HSV-1 infections. Positive hybridization in the brain was only detected in a confirmed case of herpes simplex virus encephalitis. These results appear to confirm previous reports that HSV-1 infection is not directly involved in the pathology associated with AD.
authors.affiliation: Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: O'Kusky
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: McGeer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics*; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral