Susceptibility of primary culture neurons from rats of different ages to encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus infection

Weiping Su, Hisashi Ikegami, Yumi Nakayama, Kazuhiko Suzuki, Kei Ichi Katayama, Hiroyuki Nakayama, Kunio Doi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

The changes in susceptibility of neurons to the D variant of EMC virus (EMC-D) (106 PFU/well) were investigated in developing hippocampal primary cultures from postnatal days of 1, 7, and 56 Fischer 344 rats (P1, P7, and P56) for up to 12 h after infection (12 HAI). The virus titer of primary culture neurons increased at 1 HAI, decreased at 2 HAI, increased at 3 HAI, peaked at 8 HAI, and decreased at 12 HAI in all age groups. The titers at 1 and 8 HAI were lowest in P56 cultures. The virus titer of neurons was always higher than that of culture media, especially at 1 HAI, in P1 cultures, whereas the former was lower than the latter from 2 to 3 HAI in P7 cultures and from 2 to 4 HAI in P56 cultures, respectively. Signals of viral RNA detected by in situ hybridization were first observed in the peripheral cytoplasm of neurons at 1 HAI in P1 and P7 cultures and at 4 HAI in P56 cultures, respectively. The signals spread to a large or whole area of cytoplasm and also to processes thereafter. The number of viral RNA-positive neurons and the amount of signals decreased with age. The present results indicated that the susceptibility of primary culture neurons to EMC-D decreased with age but viral replication still occurred in P56 cultures.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)160-164
Number of pages5
JournalExperimental and Molecular Pathology
Volume75
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Age
  • Encephalomyocarditis virus
  • Primary culture neuron
  • Rat
  • Susceptibility

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Clinical Biochemistry

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