Nerve growth factor protects against herpes simplex virus type 1 neurotoxicity in the rat striatum.
To determine the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on the neurotoxicity of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in vivo, direct intrastriatal injection of HSV-1 in rats was followed by continuous intracerebral infusion of NGF or vehicle solution for 7 days. The mean volume of HSV-1-mediated brain tissue destruction in NGF-treated animals was significantly smaller than that in vehicle-treated animals at 1 week. Immunohistochemical staining for HSV-1 confirmed the presence of cells harboring the virus at the primary site of injection and at secondary sites of distant spread, with no significant difference in HSV-1 distribution between NGF- and vehicle-treated animals. We conclude that intrastriatal infusion of NGF locally protects against HSV-1-mediated neurolysis, but does not affect HSV-1 dissemination in the brain.
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Neurosurgery Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown 02129.
Chiocca
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D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis / Q000473:pathology; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase