Temporal development of the behavioral effects of herpes encephalitis in mice

The temporal development of behavioral effects due to central nervous system infection with the herpes simplex type 1 virus was examined in two mouse models. Following infection of adult female NYA/Nylar mice with the HF strain of herpes, or adult female BALB/c mice with the F strain, the majority of animals survived. An increase in motor activity observed 7 days following infection of NYA/Nylar mice coincided in time with a decline in brain virus titers. Likewise, an increase in errors occurring during serial-reversal performance in a water Y-maze was observed 8 days following infection of Balb/c mice and coincided with the declining phase of the viral growth curve. Taken together, these results suggest that processes involved in the elimination of the virus from the brain, such as the cellular immune response, may be important in the development of behavioral effects produced by nonfatal herpes encephalitis.