[Immunohistochemical localization of herpes simplex virus type 1 in experimental retinitis--2. The brain, contralateral optic nerve and retina].

Unilateral intravitreal inoculation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV) induced bilateral retinitis and encephalitis in rats. In a previous paper, we demonstrated immunohistochemical localization of HSV in the ipsilateral retina. In this paper, we report immunohistochemical localization of antigen to HSV in the brain and opposite eye. HSV was found in the optic chiasm, and bilaterally in the suprachiasmatic nuclei, lateral geniculate nuclei, superior colliculus, pretectum, and visual cortex. HSV was also found in the retinal ganglion cells, neural cells in the inner nuclear layer, and Müller cells in the opposite eye. We demonstrated HSV infection in the retina of the opposite eye via the optic nerve, visual pathway, and nuclei, but not through the blood stream.