Differences in attachment between herpes simplex type 1 and type 2 viruses to neurons and glial cells

Fractions of nerve cell perikarya, synaptosomes, and astrocytic glia were prepared from human, monkey , rabbit, rat, and mouse brain tissue. The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) binding capacity of these fractions was studied. Pretreatment of fractions with one type of HSV and the subsequent testing of adsorption of homotypic and heterotypic virus ws employed to reveal type selectivity of virus binding receptors. A higher density of HSV-1 than of HSV-2 selective receptors was found on synaptosomes and glial cells, except with mouse-derived preparations. Synaptosomal and glial cell preparations of mouse brains adsorbed both types of HSV well. Little or no adsorption was observed with HSV-1 and HSV-2 to neuronal perikarya. The type selectivity of HSV binding receptors on brain cells ws demonstrated on preparations of human synaptosomes and mouse glial cells. Some possible implications of the observations on the HSV infection of the nervous system are discussed.