Immunohistochemical proof of intraneural localization of herpes simplex virus in experimental retinitis.
A unilateral intravitreal inoculation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) induced bilateral retinitis and encephalitis in the rat. Immunohistochemistry was employed to clarify the pathway of transmission of HSV-1 from the inoculated eye to the contralateral eye, and to identify localization of the viral antigen in the retina, optic nerve and brain. At an early stage of the post-inoculation period, HSV-1 immunoreactivity was first seen in the cytoplasm of Müller cells and then in various cells of the inner nuclear layer in the inoculated eye. At a later stage, HSV-1 immunoreactivity was seen in some retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve fibers in the inoculated eye. In the brain, HSV-1 was found in the optic chiasm, bilateral primary visual centers (bilateral suprachiasmatic nuclei, bilateral lateral geniculate nuclei, bilateral superior colliculus and bilateral pretectum) and bilateral visual cortex. HSV-1 was also demonstrated in the retinal ganglion cells, neural cells in the inner nuclear layer, and Müller cells in the contralateral eye. We found that HSV-1 antigen in the retina of the contralateral eye was transmitted through the optic nerve, visual pathway and nuclei, but not through the blood stream.
Matsushima
M
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
Uyama
M
M
Ohyama
A
A
Ueyama
T
T
Sugimoto
T
T
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D012173:Retinitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral