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A Primary Neuron Culture System for the Study of Herpes Simplex Virus Latency and Reactivation
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A Primary Neuron Culture System for the Study of Herpes Simplex Virus Latency and Reactivation

Published on: April 2, 2012

Recurrence of herpes simplex in the mouse requires an intact nerve supply to the skin

T J Hill, W A Blyth, D A Harbour

    The Journal of General Virology
    |December 1, 1983
    PubMed

    Insights

    Nerve sectioning in mice did not trigger recurrent viral disease in the ear. This study found that severing ear nerves rarely led to virus reactivation or disease recurrence.

    Area of Science:

    • Neurovirology
    • Immunology

    Background:

    • Latent viral infections can persist in nervous system ganglia.
    • Recurrent disease can be triggered by various stimuli.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the effect of nerve sectioning on latent virus reactivation in mouse ears.
    • To determine if denervation influences the incidence of recurrent viral disease.

    Main Methods:

    • Mice with latent infections in cervical ganglia underwent neurotomy (nerve sectioning).
    • Denervated ears were stimulated to induce recurrent disease.
    • Virus presence in ganglia and ear skin was assessed post-neurotomy.

    Main Results:

    • Nerve sectioning resulted in a low incidence of virus reactivation within the ganglia.
    • Infectious virus was rarely isolated from the ear skin after denervation.
    • Recurrent disease was not observed in the denervated ears.

    Conclusions:

    • Denervation of the ear in mice does not appear to promote recurrent viral disease.
    • Nerve integrity may play a limited role in controlling latent virus reactivation and subsequent disease in this model.

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