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Induction of chronic measles encephalitis in C57BL/6 mice
Abstract:
Chronic measles encephalitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice with the hamster neurotropic strain of measles virus when virus which had been passaged at low dilution in the brains of suckling C57BL/6 mice was inoculated intracerebrally into 1- to 6-month-old mice. One-third to two-thirds of mice surviving the acute infection were consistently found to develop chronic neurologic dysfunction within 3 weeks to 1 year post-infection. The acute mortality was higher in males than in females and showed a slight decline with increasing age in males. Indirect immunofluorescence (IF) studies using measles virus-specific sera from a subacute sclerosing panencephalitis patient and from a hyperimmune rabbit demonstrated abundant viral antigen in regions of telencephalon and diencephalon correlated with the appearance of typical central nervous system signs in both acute and chronic disease. Viral antigen was found in infected neurons in the grey matter. Deposition of immune complexes was minimal as observed in adjacent brain sections stained with goat anti-mouse antibody by direct IF. Occasional necrotic foci and perivascular cuffing were observed in brains from chronically infected mice.
Insights
Researchers induced chronic measles encephalitis in mice, observing neurological dysfunction in survivors. Measles virus antigen was detected in neurons, indicating a link between viral presence and disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Measles virus can cause acute and chronic neurological diseases.
- Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, fatal complication of measles infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a mouse model for chronic measles encephalitis.
- To investigate the role of measles virus in chronic neurological dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Intracerebral inoculation of a hamster neurotropic measles virus strain into C57BL/6 mice.
- Monitoring for acute mortality and chronic neurological signs.
- Indirect immunofluorescence (IF) to detect viral antigen in brain tissue.
Main Results:
- Chronic neurological dysfunction developed in 33-67% of surviving mice.
- Measles virus antigen was abundant in telencephalon and diencephalon, particularly in infected neurons.
- Acute mortality was higher in males and decreased slightly with age in males.
- Minimal immune complex deposition and occasional neuropathological changes were observed.
Conclusions:
- This study successfully modeled chronic measles encephalitis in mice.
- The presence of viral antigen in neurons correlates with neurological signs.
- The model provides a platform for studying measles virus-induced chronic neuropathology.