Lack of Efficacy of Adenosine-5′-Monophosphate Against HSV-1 Ocular Shedding in Rabbits

Abstract

Adenosine-5'-monophosphate (AMP) was evaluated for efficacy in the prevention of spontaneous and induced herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) ocular shedding in latently infected rabbits with strain McKrae. Intraperitoneal injections (IP) of AMP (100 mg/kg) or NaCl (10 mg/kg) were given on postinoculation (PI) days 16-39. Spontaneous viral shedding was monitored by ocular tear film swabs on PI days 20-39. In the induced rabbits, one group received AMP (IP) and a second group received NaCl (IP) on PI days 66-77. In a third group, AMP (100 mg/kg) was given twice a day IP on PI days 66-77, and AMP was applied by iontophoresis to these eyes on PI days 68-74. In these three groups, ocular viral shedding was induced by ocular iontophoresis of 6-hydroxydopamine on PI day 70 followed by topical application of epinephrine for 5 days (PI days 70-74). HSV-1 ocular shedding was monitored on PI days 66-78. There were no significant differences in spontaneous or induced shedding patterns between the AMP (systemic or systemic plus ocular iontophoresis) and the NaCl groups. These results suggest that this dose of systemically administered AMP plus iontophoresis of AMP does not reduce ocular HSV-1 shedding in rabbits.