Figure 9.

Progression from isolated marked single neurons to multi-neuron (plaque-like) viral protein-positive foci at 44 hpi. Groups of mice were infected with 2 × 10⁵pfu of 17LpLz/VP16p² or 17LpLz/VP16p²-R on scarified corneas. At 44 hpi, eyes and TG were harvested. Eyes were processed for infectious virus titers. TG was processed for in situ detection of b-gal activity and viral protein expression (see Section “Materials and Methods”). Three independent experiments are shown, Exp 1 and 2, n = 8 TG for each group, Exp 3, n = 16 and 12 TG for the rescue and mutant, respectively. (A) Infectious viral titers in eyes were not different between experiments or between 17LpLz/VP16p²- or 17LpLz/VP16p²-R-infected mice (ANOVA p = 0.97). (B) The number of LATp expressing neurons (blue symbols) detected in individual TG are indicated in the left panel. Brown symbols indicate protein expressing multi-neuron foci in each of these same TG (right panel). (C) Photomicrographs of representative TG infected with either17LpLz/VP16p²-R (left) or 17LpLz/VP16p² (right). Blue circles mark multi-neuron foci, and individual blue neurons are indicated by arrows. The numbers were compared using an ordinary one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparison test.