Antiviral Activity in the Rabbit Cornea of Adenine Arabinoside, Ara-A 5' Monophosphate, and Hypoxanthine Arabinoside; and Interactions with Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitor

Abstract

The multiple microtrephination technique was used in the rabbit cornea to compare the activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV) of adenine arabinoside (ara-A), ara-A 5′ monophosphate (ara-AMP) and hypoxanthine arabinoside (ara-Hx), and to determine the effect of addition of adenosine deaminase inhibitor (ADAI) to each. The greatest antiviral activity was shown by ara-AMP, and the least by ara-Hx. ADAI increased the activity of ara-A but had no effect on ara-AMP or ara-Hx.