Effect of 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosylhypoxanthine 5'-monophosphate on genital lesions and encephalitis induced by Herpesvirus hominis type 2 in female mice.

9-beta-D-Arabinofuranosylhypoxanthine 5'-monophosphate, administered orally or topically, increased the number of survivors and mean day of death in mice inoculated intravaginally with Herpesvirus hominis type 2. Topical application of the drug in ointment significantly reduced the severity of genital lesions. Orally administered drug did not appreciably reduce genital lesions, but it did cause significant increases in the number of survivors and mean day of death, even when administration was started as late as three days after inoculation of virus. Drug applied both topically and orally was more effective than drug applied by either route along. For topical application an ointment was found to be a better vehicle than polyvinyl alcohol or dimethysulfoxide. In some circumstances the vehicle of drug administration itself had some efficacy.