The Effect of Atropine Sulfate on the Course of Influenza Virus Infection

Abstract

Mice under ether anesthesia were given intranasal instillations of 0.05 ml. of a 1:100,000 dilution of a suspension of mouse lung infected with PR-8 strain of influenza virus. The inoculum contained about 1 m.l.d. of virus. Treated mice under ether anesthesia were given 1 mg. of atropine intraperit. both before and after intranasal instillation of virus. Giving atropine before instillation decreased the incidence and extent of infection of the mice. If given after the onset of the disease, atropine had no effect. The mortality and extent of the lesions were similar in the treated and untreated animals.