Immunization with a nonpathogenic HSV-1 strain prevents clinical and neuroendocrine changes of experimental HSV-1 encephalitis.
We examined whether immunization with the nonpathogenic strain R-15 of herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) may prevent the clinical and neuroendocrine changes induced by the pathogenic HSV-1 strain Syn17+. Inoculation of strain Syn17+ to control rats induced fever, marked motor hyperactivity and aggressive behavior, and increased serum ACTH, corticosterone (CS) and brain prostaglandin-E2 production. Mortality was 100%. Immunization with strain R-15 prior to challenge with Syn17+ induced the production of neutralizing antibodies to HSV-1 Syn17+, and abolished the above clinical and neuroendocrine changes. Mortality was completely prevented. These results indicate that immunization with HSV-1 strain R-15 protects rats from lethal HSV-1 encephalitis and prevents its clinical and neurochemical manifestations.
Ben-Hur
Tamir
T
Department of Neurology, The Agnes Ginges Center for Human Neurogenetics, Hadassah-Hebrew University Hospital, P.O. Box 12,000, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. tamir@hadassah.org.il
Itzik
Anna
A
Barak
Ohr
O
Asher
Yael
Y
Becker
Yechiel
Y
Yirmiya
Raz
R
Weidenfeld
Joseph
J
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020803:Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D014611:Vaccination
D011453:Prostaglandins; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone