title: Mouse model of Bell's palsy induced by reactivation of herpes simplex virus type 1.
abstract: In order to investigate the mechanism of Bell's palsy, we developed an animal model of facial nerve paralysis induced by the reactivation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Eight weeks after recovery from facial nerve paralysis caused by inoculation with HSV-1, the mice were treated with auricular skin scratch at the site of the previous inoculation, or with intraperitoneal injection of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb), or combination of both procedures. No mice developed facial nerve paralysis when they were treated with either auricular scratch or mAb injection alone. In contrast, 20% of mice developed facial nerve paralysis with the combined treatment. With one exception, no mouse treated with either auricular scratch or mAb injection showed HSV-I DNA in their facial nerve tissue, whereas 4 out of 6 mice receiving both treatments showed HSV-1 DNA on day 10 after treatment. Histopathological findings showed neuronal degeneration in the geniculate ganglion and demyelination of the facial motor nerve in paralyzed mice. These findings suggest that a combination of stimuli, local skin irritation, and general immunosuppression is essential for successfully inducing facial nerve paralysis in mice with latent HSV-1 infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Ehime University School of Medicine, Onsen-gun, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hitsumoto
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hato
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizobuchi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kisaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wakisaka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gyo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004431:Ear, External / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D005830:Geniculate Ganglion / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D014775:Virus Activation; D017735:Virus Latency
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004279:DNA, Viral