Murine cytomegalovirus adrenalitis in athymic nude mice

During studies of the pathogenesis of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection in athymic nude mice, we noted striking virus involvement of the adrenal glands. Because patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have recently been reported to have adrenal necrosis and evidence of infection of the adrenal gland with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), we have further evaluated adrenal gland involvement during MCMV infection. Following virus inoculation, MCMV replicated to high titer in the adrenal glands of T-cell deficient, homozygous nude mice, but not heterozygous littermates with intact T-cell function. Concomitant with the high titers of virus, there appeared overt histological evidence of herpes-virus virus infection accompanied by patchy necrosis of adrenal cortical and medullary tissues. Acyclovir, which inhibits growth of MCMV, reduced virus replication in the adrenal gland. Similarly, virus replication was diminished in homozygous nude mice immunologically reconstituted by infusion of normal spleen cells three weeks prior to infection. Thus, in the absence of functioning T lymphocytes, MCMV can infect and replicate in adrenal tissues causing a progressive destructive adrenalitis.