ANALYSIS OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-INFECTION AND REPLICATION IN ACINAR EPITHELIAL-CELLS OF THE RAT LACRIMAL GLAND

Purpose. The objectives of this investigation were threefold: to advan ce understanding of the nature and impact of herpesvirus infection in the lacrimal gland; to determine the influence of gender and sex hormo nes on viral infectivity and replication capacity in lacrimal tissue; and to compare the susceptibilities of lacrimal, submandibular, and pa rotid cells to viral invasion. Methods. Acinar epithelial cells were i solated from lacrimal or salivary glands from intact, orchiectomized, ovariectomized, or sham-operated rats, cultured on Matrigel in serum-f ree media, and briefly exposed to rat cytomegalovirus (RCMV). Cells we re then incubated for varying time intervals, and RCMV titers and secr etory component (SC) levels in media or cell extracts were measured by plaque assay or radioimmunoassay. Exocrine glands also were obtained from rats after RCMV inoculation in vivo and were analyzed for viral i nfection. Results. These findings demonstrated that RCMV invades the r at lacrimal gland after intravenous or intraperitoneal viral inoculati on; RCMV infects and undergoes a time-, dose-, strain- and gender-depe ndent replication in acinar epithelial cells from rat lacrimal tissue; the magnitude of RCMV replication in acinar epithelial cells in vitro may be altered by prior changes in the endocrine environment in vivo; viral challenge to acinar epithelial cells does not necessarily impai r their functional ability or viability and may, in fact, induce an ac ute increase in the cellular production of SC; and the extent of viral replication in lacrimal and salivary gland epithelial cells displays distinct, tissue-specific variations. Conclusions. The herpesvirus RCM V invades and replicates in acinar epithelial cells from the rat lacri mal gland. The magnitude of this viral infection may be significantly influenced by gender and alterations in the hormonal environment.