The demyelinating effect of corneal HSV infections in normal and nude (athymic) mice.
Nude (athymic) mice and their immune competent Balb/c litter mates were infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV) type I on the scarified cornea. Seven to eight days after infection the trigeminal root entry zone was examined by light and electron microscopy. The immune competent Balb/c litter mates demonstrated marked central nervous system (CNS) demyelination when compared to the T cell-deficient animals who showed mild edematous change and minimal CNS demyelination ultrastructurally 7 days after infection. Viral titers were similar in both groups at this time. These studies further substantiate a role for the cell-mediated immune system in the CNS demyelination 1 week after corneal infection with HSV.
D000818:Animals; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007635:Keratitis, Dendritic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000473:pathology