Type 1 and type 2 herpes simplex virus in corneal cell cultures.

The pathogenicity of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in primary cultures of epithelia, stromal, and endothelial cells of rabbit corneas was studied at various incubation temperatures (30 degrees, 36 degrees, and 40 degrees C). We tested three strains each of type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). At all three temperatures, the epithelial cells appeared to be more susceptible to both HSV-1 and HSV-2 than the stromal and endothelial cells. In general, less HSV-1 was requered than HSV-2 to infect the same type of corneal cell at the same incubation temperature. At 40 degrees C, however, there was far less cell destruction by either HSV-1 or HSV-2 than at 30 degrees or 36 degrees C. This inhibition at 40 degrees C was more pronounced in the cells infected with HSV-2 than in those infected with HSV-1, and the inhibition was accompanied consistently by significant suppression of virus multiplication in the cells.