Kinetics of Nitric Oxide Production and MTT Reduction by HSV-1 Infected Macrophages

Background: macrophages have important role in defenseagainst herpes simplex virus type-i (hsy-i). the presentstudy was performed to determine the viability and nitric oxide(no) production by hsy-l infected mouse peritonealmacrophages (him).method: the viability of macrophages was evaluated usingmtt reduction assay and the production of nitrite usinggriess method.results: the ability of infected macrophages to reduce tetrazolium(mtt) was diminished at virus to cell ratios of multiplicityof infection (mol) of one, three and 10; but not ato.oland 0.1. induction and inhibition ofno production by himwere mol dependent. the basal no production by these cellswas inhibited at mol of three and ten. in contrast virus to cellratios of 0.0 i and o. j induced low but significant enhancementin no production. the inability of him to reduce witt at molof three was significant after 12-hrs and inhibition of no productionwas initiated between 12-20 hours after infection.conclusion: high doses of hsy-l seem to decrease the normalactivity of macrophages by inhibiting the production ofnitric oxide.