PHARMACOMANIPULATION OF HSV-1 INDUCED CHORIORETINITIS IN MICE

In the von Szily mouse model, intracameral inoculation of herpes simpl ex virus type-1 (HSV-1) results in inflammation of the ipsilateral ant erior segment with relative chorioretinal sparing and destructive cont ralateral chorioretinitis. We studied the effect of the systemic antiv iral agent acyclovir (ACV) and anti-HSV-1 antibody therapy in this mod el, Contralateral chorioretinitis developed in none of the 18 mice rec eiving ACV from post-inoculation day (pid) 1 (p<0.0001), in 6 of 10 (6 0%) mice when treatment was delayed until pid 7 (p = 0.40) and in 14 o f 18 (77%) controls. Contralateral disease developed in 8 of 16 (50%) mice that received anti-HSV-1 antibody from pid 1 (p = 0.02), in 13 of 16 (81%) treated from pid 5 (p = 0.64), in 7 of 8 (87.5%) treated fro m pid 7 (p = 1.0) and in 17 of 20 (85%) controls. We conclude that ear ly treatment with ACV or anti-HSV-1 antibody reduces the incidence of contralateral chorioretinitis in mice.