Figure 1. Preventive administration of TCDD diminishes SK severity.

C57BL/6 animals infected with 1 x 10⁴ PFU of HSV were given either TCDD or vehicle IP on day 1 pi or FICZ or vehicle IP from day 1 to day 11 pi. The disease progression was analyzed throughout time in a blinded manner using a scale described in materials and methods. A, The progression of SK lesion severity was significantly reduced in the group of mice treated with TCDD as compared with control mice. Kinetics of SK severity is shown. B, The progression of angiogenesis was significantly reduced in the group of mice treated with TCDD as compared with control mice. Kinetics of angiogenesis lesion severity is shown. C, Individual eye scores of SK lesion severity and angiogenesis on day 14 pi. D, Percentage of encephalitis through time in control and TCDD treated mice. Herpetic encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain caused by HSV-1 and in mice gives clinical signs such as lethargy, ruffled fur, and hind limb paralysis [54], [55]. E, Eye swabs were taken from infected corneas from treated and control animals using sterile swabs on day 1, 3 and 6 pi or corneal tissue on day 6 pi and titration was performed by standard plaque assay as described on materials and methods. Titers were calculated as log₁₀ pfu/ml. F, Kinetics of SK lesion scores in mice treated with FICZ or vehicle. Data are representative of 3 independent experiments and show mean values ± SEM (n = 10 mice/group). P≤0.001(***), P≤0.01(**), P≤0.05(*).