Electron Microscopic Observations of the Cells Infected with Varicella-Zoster Virus

Abstract

The pathomorphological changes and the multiplication process of varicella-zoster virus was studied in VERO cells infected with this virus isolated from the vesicle contents of varicella patient by Ogiwara and Nakamura [4]. The light microscopic observation of the virus infected VERO cell sheets showed at first the localized groups of cells which were round in shape and reflected the light strongly. These localized pathological changes gradually extended to the neighboring cells and finally such changes could be seen practically in the cells of the entire sheet. In the electron microscopic observation, the site where the pathological changes by varicella-zoster virus infection observed at first in the cell was the inside of the nucleus. Namely, the core particles of 70-90 mμ in diameter were made in the nucleus. And these core particles passed through the inner nuclear membrane, and then these particles in the vesicle of the outer nuclear membrane moved into the cytoplasm. The capsids of virus particles measured 90-110 mμ in diameter were made on the outside of core in the cytoplasm, and the thick membrane of the electron dense substances measured 190-220 mμ in diameter enveloped the virus particles with capsids. This membrane is one part of the envelope of virus particle. The mature virus particles are released from the host cell through the cell wall to the outside of the cell.