Expression of herpes simplex associated antigens in ocular tissues following induced herpetic anterior uveitis.

Timing and distribution of the expression of herpes simplex virus, type 1, associated antigen (HSV-1 AA) positive cells were studied immunohistochemically, following unilateral inoculation of HSV-1 into the anterior chamber of BALB/c mice. Inflammatory cells appeared in the corneal limbus, the anterior chamber angle, and Schlemm's canal of the inoculated eyes within 24 hours. HSV-AA positive cells developed in this period in the non-pigmented epithelium (which corresponds to the human pigmented epithelium) of the iris and the corneal endothelium; they also appeared in the ciliary body by the day 3 and remained positive until day 7. Apparent involvement of the posterior segment of the eye was seen in only 2 of the 9 inoculated eyes on day 3. However, once invasion of the posterior segment has occurred, there appears to be a stronger reaction in the retinal non-pigmented epithelial (RnPE) layer, which corresponds to the human retinal pigmented epithelium, than in the sensory retina.