Latency of mouse cytomegalovirus in sciatic nerve.

This report describes a mammalian model for exploring the role of virus in peripheral neuropathy. Schwann cells in culture were permissive for mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) replication. Intraperitoneal inoculation rarely led to sciatic nerve infection. Sciatic nerves infected by direct intraneural injection produced infectious virus and contained viral antigen at 4 days postinfection (pi). Nerves taken later, at 4 to 8 weeks pi, contained no infectious virus, but MCMV was present in a latent state because culture of nerve explants reactivated virus. The findings contrast the viral permissiveness of cultured Schwann cells to the latency observed in intact peripheral nerve.