PARTIAL INHIBITION OF THE IN-VITRO INFECTION OF ADULT-MOUSE DORSAL-ROOT GANGLION NEURONS BY RABIES VIRUS USING NICOTINIC ANTAGONISTS

The infection of target cells by rabies virus is effected through memb rane receptors. Several authors have suggested that nicotinic receptor s could be used by this virus, but no direct experimental evidence is available. In this study mouse dorsal root ganglia cells were treated with various nicotinic antagonists (dihydro-beta-eritroidine, mecamila mine, d-tubocurarin, hexametonium, alpha-bungarotoxin and erabutoxin). After incubation. the cultures were infected with rabies virus. Cells were fixed, and processed for immunodetection of rabies virus. Treatm ent with mecamilamine or d-tubocurarine reduced the percentage of infe cted neurons. None of the antagonists tested changed the percentage of infected non-neuronal cells. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.