Observations on cultures of rabbit retina infected with vaccinia and herpes simplex virus.

Summary Retinal cultures from newborn rabbits were infected with herpes simplex virus and neuro- and non-neuroadapted strains of vaccinia virus. Herpes simplex virus gave rise to characteristic nuclear changes of mesenchymal cells, and rod cells and a rapid destruction of neurons. The vaccinia virus strains all caused development of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in the mesenchymal cells, which then degenerated. Changes in neuroectodermal cells were observed relatively late and might be secondary to the deterioration of mesenchymal cells. The implication of these findings for the study of the problem of selective cellular susceptility of the central nervous system to viruses is discussed.