Influence of human leukocyte interferon on IgG on the replication of herpes simplex virus in nervous tissue in vitro.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replicated productively in rabbit and guinea pig ganglia and nerve organ cultures when inoculated in high titres. Treatment with IgG 20 hr before and 48 hr after infection produced a delay of 4 to 7 days in the recovery of HSV-1 by the method of co-cultivation. The same result was obtained when IgG was combined with human leukocyte interferon. There was no difference in the period up to HSV recovery between the groups treated with interferon alone and the HSV control. Morphological evidence by light and electron microscopy of viral productive infection was obtained in all the cell types of nervous tissues infected in vitro.