Failure of 5-bromodeoxyuridine to influence the activation of latent herpex simplex virus infection in explants of the rabbit regional sensory ganglia.

The occurence of virus-specific antigens in explants of the Gasserian ganglia of rabbits with healed keratitis induced by the Kupka strain of human herpesvirus type 1 was tested by indirect immunofluorescence. In explants, the neurons and satellite cells revealed specific fluorescence from the 3rd day of culturing. The pattern of virus activation in the ganglion tissue was similar irrespective of whether the explants were cultured in the presence or absence of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine.