[An in vitro study on the activation of HSV-1 latent infection in the trigeminal ganglion].

Latent infection in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) was established by inoculating HSV-1 strain Mckrae on the cornea of New Zealand white rabbits. From PI day 30 to day 100, we removed the TG at intervals to establish primary cell cultures. HSV-1 antigen was positive in the TG culture cells on PI day 8 and CPE appeared on PI day 10. All latently infected TG culture cells showed spontaneous infection, while CPE and HSV-1 antigen were positive in PI 2 to 3 weeks. We thus established a cell model in which HSV-1 latent infection in TG was activated in vitro. This may serve as a new approach to study the mechanism of HSV-1 latent infection in TG.