Light and electron microscopic studies of mouse CNS after subcutaneous administration of the E and M variants of the encephalomyocarditis virus.

Abstract

One hundred and eighty 12 week old Swiss mice were injected subcutaneously with 0.1 ml suspensions of the E and M variants of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus. Ninety-seven surviving mice were sacrificed at intervals from 24 h to 21 days following injection. The M variant group showed only mild microglial proliferation in the brain, while the E variant group displayed various alterations in the astrocytes and neurons exhibiting loss of nuclear membranes and marked changes in the mitochondria and other organelles. In addition, the neuronal cytoplasm displayed aggregates of fine electron-dense granules on the third day which increased in size during the fifth to seventh day. After 7 days, the neurons contained occasional rhomboid structures composed of rows of parallel arranged granules which were similar to those observed in the viscera after EMC virus infection.