Virus-Neuron Interactions in the Mouse Brain Infected with Japanese Encephalitis Virus,

Authors: Tatsuo Hase; WALTER REED ARMY INST OF RESEARCH WASHINGTON DC

Abstract:

The virus-host interactions between Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus and mouse brain neurons were analyzed by electron microscopy. JE virus replicated exclusively in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) of neurons. In the early phase of infection, the perikaryon of infected neurons had relatively normal-looking lamellar RER whose cisternae showed focal dilations containing progeny virions and characteristic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) vesicles. The reticular RER, consisted of rows of ribosomes surrounding irregular-shaped, membrane-unbounded custernae and resembled that observed in JE-virus-infected PC12 cells, were also seen adjacent to the lamellar RER. The appearance of the reticular RER indicated that RER morphogenesis occurred in infected neurons in association with the viral replication. The fine network of Golgi apparatus was extensively obliterated by fragmentation and dissolution of the Golgi membranes and their replacement by the electron-lucent material. As the infection progressed, the lamellar RER was increasingly replaced by hypertrophic RER which had diffusely dilated cisternae containing multiple progeny virions and ER vesicles. The Golgi apparatus, at this stage, was seen as coarse localized Golgi complexes near the hypertrophic RER. Golgi apparatus, Japanese encephalitis virus, Mouse brain neuron, Rough endoplasmic reticulum, Viral infection.

Limitations:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE