Replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 in macrophages from resistant and susceptible mice.

Studies were carried out to determine whether the in vitro capacity of adherent peritoneal cells to replicate herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) might correlate with the in vivo susceptibility of mice genetically resistant, moderately susceptible, or very susceptible to HSV-1 infection. Unstimulated and proteose peptone-stimulated monolayers restricted viral replication when infected immediately, but replicated HSV-1 when infected after 3 to 7 days of culture. Macrophages from resistant C57Bl/6 mice restricted HSV-1 replication significantly better than cells from susceptible mice. This function did not segregate with resistance, since macrophages from resistant F1 mice failed to restrict HSV-1 replication. Induction of peritoneal exudate cells with thioglycolate yielded cells capable of replicating HSV-1 when infected immediately after plating and after 4 days of culture.