Pseudorabies virus - induced neural hyperreactivity following occular and skin infections in the rat

The types of functional disturbances caused by a neurotropic virus was investigated by means of neurophysiological techniques. Two types of neurophysiologic lesions were produced in the superior cervical sympathetic ganglia and sural nerve in rats infected with two distinct strains of pseudorabies virus. The pruritus-producing strain following intraocular inoculation displayed spontaneous activity in the ganglia both in vivo and in vitro. This activity was susceptible to the actions of ATP, AMP, pyridoxine, pyridoxamine, serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Following intradermal inoculation, spontaneous activity and pruritus were seen along the sural nerve. The non- pruritus producing strain caused meningoencephalitis with impaired sympathetic synaptic conduction. The relationship of these pathopharmacologic findings to pathogenesis of syndromes naturally or experimentally occurring in viral infection was assessed.