Herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 in the adrenal glands: Replication and histopathology

The adrenal glands were shown to be the most severely infected organs in the early phase of HSV-1 infections (up to 10 days p.i.) after i.p. infections in mice. Virus could be isolated from the adrenal glands as early as one hour after infection with pathogenic and apathogenic strains. Infection of the adrenal glands is a result of viremia. The content of HSV-1 (5 strains) was much higher in the adrenals than in spleen and liver. It peaked at 3-4 days p.i. compared to 1-2 days in spleen and liver. Only strain 17 syn+ produced low tissue titres in the adrenal glands. Morphologic alterations by HSV-1 infections commenced with distinct foci 2 days after infection in the zona fasciculata, detec…