Peripheral infection in culture of rat sensory neurons by herpes simplex virus.

The peripheral infection of neurons from dissociated rat sensory ganglia by herpes simplex virus was studied with a newly developed tissue culture system. The results indicated that the virus arrives at the neuronal soma by an axoplasmic route and that at least some of these neurons are productively infected since eventually all cells in the culture appeared to be destroyed by the virus. This system showed promise in elucidating the possible roles of various effector cells, antiviral antibody, or antiviral compounds in the mechanism of herpes simplex virus latency.