The glucocorticoid therapy for herpes simplex virus encephalitis in mice / 临床儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objectives To investigate the pathogenic mechanism of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) and the mecha-nism of action of dexamethasone and acyclovir. Methods 102 male mice were randomly assigned to normal control group, HSV-1 infection group, acyclovir-treated group and combination-treated group. The model of HSE was established by in-tracranial injection of HSV-1 in mice except normal controls. One day after intracranial injection, mice in acyclovir-treated group and combination-treated group were intragastrically administrated with acyclovir, and mice in normal control group and HSV-1 infection group were intragastrically administrated with normal saline. Three days after intracranial injection, mice in combination-treated group were intraperitoneally injected with dexamethasone and mice in other groups were in-traperitoneally injected with normal saline. The neurological injury score and the expressions of IL-2 and IL-10 of the mice brain tissues in each group were compared at 3, 6 and 9 days after model establishment. Results The survival rate of mice was lowest in HSV-1 infection group and highest in combination-treated group (P0.05). Conclusions In comparison with acyclovir monotherapy, combined treatment with dexamethasone and acyclovir for HSE can reduce the expression of IL-2 and IL-10, relieve the clinical symptoms, and increase the survival rate.