EFFECT OF TRIGEMINAL NERVE AND GANGLION MANIPULATION ON RECURRENCE OF OCULAR HERPES-SIMPLEX IN RABBITS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 15  (9) , 726-731
Abstract
Latent herpes simplex virus (HSV) was demonstrated in the trigeminal ganglia of experimentally infected rabbits between episodes of spontaneous ocular recurrence. In 3 experiments, the normal pattern of recurrence was modified by manipulation of the trigeminal nerve and ganglion. Temporary retrobulbar disruption of trigeminal nerve function in chronically infected animals significantly decreased the number of ocular HSV isolations obtained during the 20 wk immediately following surgery. Stereotaxic interruption of intracranial trigeminal nerve function prior to initial HSV infection dramatically reduced the incidence of peripheral recurrence of HSV. In chronically infected animals, stereotaxic stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion caused a marked increase in positive cultures within 2 days. The reservoir for latent ocular HSV in rabbits is possibly the trigeminal ganglion. The transmission of latent HSV from the trigeminal ganglion to its infectious form in the peripheral tissues may involve the trigeminal nerve. Mechanical and stereotaxic stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion is apparently a reliable and rapid means of precipitating peripheral ocular shedding of HSV on command, a finding which should prove most productive in future research.

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