IMMUNE CELL INFILTRATION AND PERSISTENCE IN THE MOUSE TRIGEMINAL GANGLION AFTER INFECTION OF THE CORNEA WITH HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-1

Following inoculation of the mouse cornea with herpes simplex virus ty pe 1 (HSV-1), the spread of virus was investigated and the types of im mune cell infiltrating the trigeminal ganglion (TG) were identified in low temperature paraffin wax sections. Virus antigen was first found on day 3 and was absent after day 14. Early presentation of antigen to T cells may occur since increased expression of major histocompatibil ity complex (MHC) class II antigens, including de novo expression on s atellite and Schwann cells, was detected in foci of such antigen on da y 3. A second large peak of such expression was detected on day 10 tog ether with increasing numbers of B and T cells. Large numbers of these lymphocytes and extensive expression of MHC class II were seen in the TG well into the phase of virus latency; the significance of this is discussed.