Herpes Simplex Virus (Type 2) Infection in the Inner Ear of the Guinea Pig

Abstract

The cause of sudden deafness is not clear, and virus infection is suspected as one of participant. Herpes simplex virus which has the strong tropism to the nervous system was inoculated directly into the inner ear through the round window, and the distribution of the viral antigen was examined by immunofluorescence in paraffin sections with enzyme treatment together with histopathological study at the different stages after virus infection. Microscopic examination revealed the fibrotic change of scala tympani, degeneration of Reissner membrane, destruction and flatness of the organ of Corti at basal turn, the change of nuclei in spiral ganglion, and the atrophy of stria vascularis. Viral antigen was demonstrated in those areas. Viral antigen was also detected in the several parts of uninfected inner ear. Virus was recovered from the most of infected inner ears at different days and uninfected ear at the 12th day after infection.
Further investigation such as the confirmation of latent infection in the inner ear system, reinfection under the existence of antibody, permeability of cochlear membrane for the virus, and the extension of the virus infection from infected ear to the non-infected side, may be required to clarify the mechanism of viral infection in the inner ear.