acute and latent infection with herpes simplex virus type 1

Immunocytochemistry on serial paraffin sections was used to monitor the production dynamics of cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-c and TNF-a) and viral antigens in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and the central side of the dorsal root entry zone (DRE) of mice, following infection of the cornea with herpes simplex virus type 1. In normal TG, scattered satellite cells were TNF-aMand in the DRE, TNF-aM and/or low numbers of IL-6Mcells were detected. On day 3 after infection, foci of TG neurons with viral antigens were surrounded by large numbers of TNF-aMand/or IL-6Mcells and low numbers of IFN-cM cells. IL-2Mand/or IL-4Mcells appeared later, when viral antigens had almost cleared. In the TG, the most striking changes occurred with TNF-a, with respect to its source (satellite cells, Schwann cell