Scanning microscopy by itself cannot elucidate the mechanism of herpetic infection of the cornea, but it contributes to the study of the viral propagation on the corneal surface in experimental herpetic keratitis. The theory that the propagation takes place by the intermediary of the subepithelial nerve fibres seems to be the most probable. A localised disappearance of microvilli and the fusion of some of them to form tuberous formations were observed. The epithelial cells were detached from one another to form punctate, linear and dendritic lesions. Furthermore, by reproducing the essential changes of intracellular herpetic infection in situ, the recent primo-cultures of the corneal epithelium constitute a very valuable experimental model.
The lysosomal cycle has been studied in the primary cultures of corneal epithelium infected with type I herpes virus. Immediately after the infection, the lysosomal system develops. There is a great dispersion in the morphometric analysis of the lysosomal particles. They represent a heterogeneous population with regard to their size. The number of lysosomal particles increases very rapidly during the first hours after the herpetic infection. Finally many cells become round and die.
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