Characterization of “nodular inflammatory foci” in the neonatal lung 5 days after MCMV-3D infection.

<p>(A–E, G–J) Wildtype or (F) Ncr1^gfp/+ neonatal mice were l.p. infected with 5×10⁴ PFU MCMV-3D, 5 days later mice were sacrificed and lungs explanted. (A, C–E, G–J) Frozen sections were stained with antibodies as indicated and DAPI nuclear staining. (B) Paraffin embedded sections were analyzed after hematoxylin and eosin staining. (C–E) Cellular composition of nodular inflammatory foci. (F) Frozen sections from Ncr1^gfp/+ mice were analyzed by 2-photon microscopy. (A, B) Overview with multiple nodular inflammatory foci (frames in A and B) and solitary mCherry⁺ infected cells (arrowheads in A), (B) one nodular inflammatory focus is magnified. (G) Morphological discrimination between viable infected cells (arrows) and remnants (arrowheads) of infected cells. (H–J) Remnants engulfed by phagocytes are indicated by arrowheads. Scale bars: (A+B) 100 µm, (C–E, G) 50 µm, (F, H–J) 20 µm. AF = autofluorescence of tissue, (A–J) representative of n>6 from >3 independent experiments.