EFFECT OF QUERCETIN ON THE COURSE OF MENGO-VIRUS INFECTION IN IMMUNODEFICIENT AND NORMAL MICE - A HISTOLOGIC-STUDY

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (3) , 148-155
Abstract
Quercetin protects mice from lethal mengo virus infection when given orally 12 and 1 h before and 8, 24, 36, 48 and 56 h after inoculation. No differences in the course of infection have been found between normal splenectomized or congenitally athymic mice. The effect of drug treatment was similar in all 3 modes. Necrotic lesions in the main target organs (CNS, salivary and lacrimal glands, thymus, pancreas, kidneys and spleen) from both normal and immunodeficient animals were less severe and developed later in quercetin-treated mice than in placebo-treated ones. In a few quercetin-treated virus-infected survivors a slight and persistent encephalitis was seen. Quercetin enhanced the graft-vs.-host reaction, but failed to affect the humoral antibody response of mice to sheep red blood cells. Evidently, T- and B-lymphocytes seem involved neither in the pathogenesis of acute mengo virus infection nor in the antiviral effect of quercetin.