Evolution of Herpes Simplex Cellular Lesions Observed in vitro by Phase Contrast Microcinematography

Abstract

With continuous observation of living rabbit kidney cell cultures infected with herpes simplex virus the following phenomena were established: starting from the 9-10th hour after infection, a progressive dissolution and dispersion of nucleoli, loss of nucleoplasmic homogeneity and appearance of an intranuclear densification zone but not of a well delineated inclusion body. Persistent activity of cytoplasmic organelles, especially mitochondria and undulating membranes, in cell bearing severe nuclear lesions. Rapid (2-3 hours) formation of giant cells occuring by cell confluence but not by cell division mechanism, accompanied by signs of cytoplasmic liquefaction. It is concluded that herpes virus infection is producing in the cell not a simple arrest of normal cell functions but, temporarly, during the time of virus synthesis, a profound and very particular reorganisation of both cyto and nucleoplasm.