Electron microscopic observations on primary hepatocyte cultures infected with herpes simplex virus types I and II

The replication cycle of the Herpes simplex virus (HSV) strains I and II has so far been described mainly in established proliferative cell cultures. Most of the biochemical data and ultrastructural cell changes regarding the virus-cell interaction have been obtained from 'permissive' cells which allow almost unrestricted viral multiplication. It seems obvious, however, that the in vivo viral infections are not represented adequately by these experiments. In order to achieve a more realistic view of the ultrastructural events during HSV infection of adult tissue, cell cultures were prepared from adult mouse and rat livers and infected with several HSV strains. Established 'permissive' cell lines (BHK and RK cells), served as controls. Although the main principles of viral attachment, replication and release of viral particles, were similar in hepatocytes and proliferating cells, marked differences were observed regarding the better preservation of the nuclear structures, the lower replication rate of viruses, the hypertrophy of the endoplasmic reticulum, and the changes in the Golgi apparatus. Summarizing, it can be stated that hepatocytes infected by HSV in cell culture display the well known general features of adult cells infected by viruses in vivo.