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Published on: July 11, 2011
Acute demyelination in mice inoculated intraspinally with mouse hepatitis virus, JHM strain
Abstract:
After intracerebral or intralumbar inoculation of mouse hepatitis virus, JHM strain, into weanling mice, viral growth and lesions in the central nervous system were comparatively studied for 5 days postinoculation. In the intralumbar group the virus titer of the spinal cord exceeded that of the brain until 24 hr postinoculation, and declined later. In the intracerebral group the brain virus titer was always higher, and the cord titer attained the same level as that of intralumbar group at 72 hr. Demyelinating lesions in the spinal cord appeared 48 hr after intralumbar inoculation, that is, 36 hr earlier than after intracerebral inoculation. Virus-specific fluorescence was detected within glia cells in the cord white matter 48 hr intralumbar inoculation. Electron microscopy revealed a number of virions within oligodendroglia cells, suggesting that the acute phase demyelination might be due to viral growth within this type of cells.
Insights
Intracerebral inoculation of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) JHM strain led to higher brain viral titers compared to intralumbar inoculation. Demyelinating lesions appeared earlier in the spinal cord after intralumbar inoculation.
Area of Science:
- Neurovirology
- Central Nervous System (CNS) Infections
- Mouse Models of Viral Encephalomyelitis
Background:
- Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), JHM strain, is a neurotropic coronavirus.
- Understanding the pathogenesis of MHV in the central nervous system (CNS) is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comparatively analyze viral growth and demyelinating lesion development in the CNS after intracerebral versus intralumbar inoculation of MHV.
- To investigate the cellular tropism of MHV during acute demyelination.
Main Methods:
- Intracerebral and intralumbar inoculation of weanling mice with MHV, JHM strain.
- Quantification of viral titers in brain and spinal cord tissues up to 5 days postinoculation.
- Histopathological examination for demyelinating lesions and immunohistochemical detection of virus-specific fluorescence.
- Electron microscopy to identify viral particles within specific cell types.
Main Results:
- Intralumbar inoculation showed higher spinal cord viral titers than brain titers within the first 24 hours postinoculation.
- Intracerebral inoculation resulted in consistently higher brain viral titers.
- Demyelinating lesions in the spinal cord appeared 48 hours after intralumbar inoculation, 36 hours earlier than after intracerebral inoculation.
- Virus-specific fluorescence and virions were detected within glia, particularly oligodendrocytes, in the spinal cord white matter.
Conclusions:
- The route of MHV inoculation significantly impacts viral distribution and lesion onset in the CNS.
- Intralumbar inoculation leads to a more rapid onset of spinal cord demyelination.
- Acute demyelination in MHV infection may result from viral replication within oligodendrocytes.
