PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE USE OF PSEUDORABIES VIRUS IN TRANSNEURONAL STUDIES OF NEURAL CIRCUITRY

The development of neurotrophic alpha herpesviruses for transneuronal analysis of neuronal circuitry has emerged from interdisciplinary char acterizations of the viral life cycle and the defense response mounted by the nervous system to contain and eliminate the infection. Importa nt findings from a number of fields have combined to provide compellin g evidence that these viruses, when used appropriately, are powerful p robes of multisynaptic circuits. These studies have also revealed that a number of variables can influence the outcome of infection and shou ld be considered in designing and interpreting data derived from studi es employing this experimental approach. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature that has established this experimental approa ch as a viable method for transynaptic analysis of neuronal circuitry and to define the factors that should be considered in applying this t echnology. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.