Hemorrhagic Necrosis of the Central Nervous System

Abstract

During studies of transplacental virus infections in random bred hamsters purchased with timed pregnancies from three commercial dealers, spontaneous hemorrhagic necrosis of the central nervous system was seen in fetuses harvested near term. Ninety-seven pregnant hamsters from three colonies were examined during a 6-month period; this condition was seen in 25 of 41, 19 of 36, and five of 20 litters. Hamsters from another commercial colony were received, housed, and fed under the same conditions, but remained free of the disease. The pathological process was characterized by multiple spreading zones of edema, malacia, and hemorrhage. Lesions were restricted to neural tissues, including the retina and internal ear. Neuroepithelial proliferation with rosette formation, accompanying the destructive process, constituted a striking reparative response. No inflammatory reaction or cytopathic effects suggestive of virus-induced disease were seen. Studies on the cause of this condition were negative at the time when the disease disappeared spontaneously.

Adenoviral vectors can impair adrenocortical steroidogenesis: Clinical implications for natural infections and gene therapy

“…Transgene expression mediated by an E1͞E3-deleted vector was highly efficient in our model of isolated BACCs in primary culture, which reinforces the evidence for a natural adrenotropism of adenoviruses, reported in animal and human studies (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22). Adenoviral transduction was followed by alteration of the ultrastructure of adrenocortical cells.…”

“…Indeed, a selective adrenotropism of this virus has been demonstrated in mice (12,13) and calves (14,15) during experimentally induced infections. In the former, viral attack affected all three zones of adrenal cortex, with 80% or more of the cells exhibiting intranuclear inclusions (12). Electron microscopy revealed changes in nuclear morphology, with the appearance of nucleolar hypertrophy and angular crystals associated with intranuclear virion accumulation (13).…”