Autonomic nervous system involvement in experimental genital infection by herpes simplex virus type 2

Peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique and histology were employed to elucidate the peripheral routes involved in HSV-2 progression from vagina towards the central nervous system in mice. 12 week-old female Balb/c mice were intravaginally infected with 5 X 10(5)LD50 of HSV-2. Sixty per cent of animals developed vulvovaginitis, perigenital alopecia and hind-limb paresia. Death occurred at 9-11 days post-infection. Colon dilatation and urinary bladder distention were observed in all cases. Complete transversal sections from vulva to kidneys were obtained of each animal, including the spinal cord in situ. Herpes antigen were regularly detected in vulvovaginal epithelium, intramural, perigenital and perivesical small nerves. Besides, their invariable presence in Auerbach's plexus and sympathetic ganglia, strongly suggests preferential autonomic nervous system involvement in the progression of HSV-2 intravaginal infection towards the spinal cord.