Evaluation of Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Activity of Acyclovir by Using Mouse Intracerebral Infection Model

ABSTRACT

To establish in vivo antiviral evaluation system by using murine herpesvirus intracerebral infection model, 5-6 female BALB/c mice per group aged 5 weeks were inoculated i.c. into cerebrum with different inocular HSV-1 F. Signs of clinical disease noted everyday for one month. Observed were body weight decrease, neurological signs and death caused by encephalitis. Mice discontinued body weight decrease were recovered from the disease, and keratitis was often observed during recovery. The groups inoculated with higher than 1,000 PFU showed 100% mortaltiy and LD50 was 25, >25, 18.4 and 8.0mg/kg b.i.d. in the group infected with 1,000,000, 100,000, 10,000 and 1,000 PFU/mouse, respectively. LD50 of ACV was 62.5 mg/kg b.i.d. Therapeutic index of ACV was <2.5, <2.5, 3.0 and 7.0 in the groups with inocula 1,000,000, 100,000, 10,000 and 1,000 PFU/mouse, respectively. Inoculum size 1,000 PFU/mouse showing 100% mortaltiy and 5-6 days mean time to death, 5 days drug administration and 14 days observation will be future exeperimental conditions.