Specific neuro-radiological diagnosis of herpes encephalitis in an animal model.
The potential of utilizing a radio-labelled derivative of the antiviral drug (E)-5-(2-iodovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (IVDU) for the specific, non-invasive, in vivo diagnosis of Herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE) was investigated in a rat model of the disease. Following pharmacological disruption of the blood brain barrier radiolabelled IVDU was administered by intra-carotid injection. Brain radioactivity was compared between control and infected animals via gamma camera scintigraphy. After clearance of non-metabolized drug, markedly higher levels of activity were found in infected brain. Post-mortem studies of cryostat sections of brain examined by autoradiography and immunochemical staining showed the radioactivity selectively accumulated in areas of virus infection. These results indicate that radio-labelled derivatives of antiviral drugs may allow the specific neuro-radiological diagnosis of HSVE.
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manchester, England.
G M
GM
Cleator
P E
PE
Klapper
A G
AG
Lewis
H L
HL
Sharma
M
M
Longson
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001345:Autoradiography; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002339:Carotid Arteries; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology; D005047:Etoposide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007065:Idoxuridine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D007553:Isotope Labeling / Q000379:methods; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D051381:Rats; D014709:Vero Cells
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; C030360:5-(2-iodovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine; D005047:Etoposide; D007065:Idoxuridine