Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 7, 2026
Restraint to Induce Stress in Mice and Rats
Published on: December 6, 2024
Restraint stress facilitates systemic dissemination of Theiler's virus and alters its pathogenecity
Wentao Mi1, Colin R Young, Ralph W Storts
1Genetics Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA.
Abstract:
Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV), a Picornavirus used as a viral model for multiple sclerosis (MS), causes an acute encephalomyelitis and chronic demyelination. The failure to clear the virus, which can result from stress, is a prerequisite for development of the later disease. Similarly, stressful life events have been associated with the development of MS. In the present study, a restraint stress (RS) model was used to investigate the effect of stress on the systemic dissemination of TMEV during the early stage of disease. Experimental data demonstrated that repeated RS remarkably facilitated the spread of virus from the CNS to such systemic organs as the spleen, lymph nodes, thymus, lungs and heart and compromised the ability of viral clearance within those tissues. RS also altered the pathogenecity of TMEV, enabling it to become cardiotropic, resulting in higher myocardial infectivity. These results demonstrate the profound impact that RS has upon both the tissue and organ dissemination of the virus, and the organ tropism of TMEV. An additional finding associated with stress was hepatic necrosis in the restrained animals, regardless of whether or not they were infected.
Insights
Stressful events worsen Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection, promoting viral spread to organs and increasing heart damage. This model highlights stress's role in viral disease progression, similar to multiple sclerosis (MS).
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Neuroimmunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV), a picornavirus, serves as a model for multiple sclerosis (MS), causing acute encephalomyelitis and chronic demyelination.
- Viral clearance failure, potentially due to stress, is crucial for developing chronic TMEV-induced disease.
- Stressful life events are linked to MS development in humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of restraint stress (RS) on the systemic dissemination of TMEV during the early stages of infection.
- To understand how stress affects viral spread from the central nervous system (CNS) to systemic organs.
- To examine stress-induced alterations in TMEV pathogenicity and organ tropism.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a restraint stress (RS) model in mice infected with TMEV.
- Assessed viral spread from the CNS to systemic organs (spleen, lymph nodes, thymus, lungs, heart).
- Evaluated viral clearance efficiency in affected tissues and monitored for organ-specific pathology, including cardiotropism and hepatic necrosis.
Main Results:
- Repeated RS significantly enhanced TMEV dissemination from the CNS to systemic organs.
- RS impaired viral clearance in systemic tissues, prolonging infection.
- TMEV exhibited increased cardiotropism under RS, leading to higher myocardial infectivity.
- Hepatic necrosis was observed in stressed animals, irrespective of TMEV infection status.
Conclusions:
- Restraint stress profoundly impacts TMEV dissemination, organ tropism, and pathogenicity.
- Stress exacerbates viral spread and compromises viral clearance, potentially contributing to disease severity.
- The findings provide insights into the role of stress in viral-induced neurological diseases like MS and highlight stress-related organ damage.
