Once Initiated Viral Encephalitis-Induced Seizures are Consistent No Matter the Treatment or Lack of Interleukin-6

摘要

Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus infection of C57BL/6 mice results in acute behavioral seizures in 50% of the mice. Treatment of infected mice with minocycline or infection of interleukin (IL)-6-deficient chimeric mice results in a significant decrease in the number of mice developing seizures. However, in those mice that do develop seizures, the pathological changes [neuronal cell loss, inflammation (perivascular cuffing, gliosis, activated microglia/macrophages], and the numbers of virus infected cells in minocycline-treated or IL-6-deficient chimeric mice are very similar. Therefore, once seizures develop, the pathological changes are consistent no matter the treatment or genetic background.