DNA synthesis in spinal ganglia of rabbit after Herpes suis infection. Findings obtained by electron microscopy and autoradiography
Becker, C.H.
Archiv für Experimentelle Veterinarmedizin 30(1): 127-143
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9055 PMID: 183618 Document Number: 104165
Multiplication of herpesvirus (Aujeszky's disease virus) in neurons, amphicytes, gliocytes and Schwann's and endothelial cells of the spinal ganglion of the rabbit was studied by electron microscopy and autoradiography, using tritium-labelled thymidine. Frequency of labelling of the nuclear zone margin of the ganglion cells was higher than expected from light microscopy, and in the mesenchymal cells, but it was not related to virus synthesis. Repeated labelling was recorded in the nucleoli of apparently unchanged ganglion cells, suggesting that the technique was suitable for early detection of infection of intact cells. 3H-thymidine was supplied for three hours and absorbed specifically by the DNA-forming centres of the nuclei, but the growing virus also absorbed additional cellular or inactive thymidine. There were 10 times as many leminici in the DNA production centres of neurons and Schwann's cells and about 6 times as many in the amphicytes and gliocytes as in nuclear zone margin. It is concluded that there is now no doubt about the specificity of herpes-dependent intranuclear inclusions.