Detection of Viral RNA by Electron Microscopic In situ Hybridization (ISH-EM) in The Germinal Epithelium of Mice Infected with Encephalomyocarditis (EMC) Virus

Abstract

Electron microscopic in situ hybridization (ISH-EM) was first applied to the detection of viral RNA in the germinal epithelium of mice inoculated i.p. with 10⁵ plaque-forming units/mouse of the D variant of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMC-D). Signals of viral RNA were first detected in a small number of Sertoli cells showing mild degeneration at 2 days post inoculation, and 2 days later, they were also detected in germinal cells and spermatogonia when Sertoli cells showed prominent degeneration. The results clearly demonstrated that the first site of viral attack in the germinal epithelium was Sertoli cell in the case of EMC-D-induced mouse orchitis.