Effects of antimetabolites on the production of tubular structures in Vero cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 2.

Treatment of Vero cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 with the proper concentrations of hydroxyurea (HU) reduced the production of infectious virus and markedly increased the accumulation of tubular structures in the nuclei when the drug was added within 6 hours after infection. Similar accumulation of tubular structures in the infected nuclei was also observed when infected cells were treated with phosphonoacetic acid at proper concentrations. The release of HU-treated, herpes simplex virus type 2-infected cells from the drug-induced blocking of synthesis of infectious virus resulted in the marked decrease of tubular structures coincidentally with the beginning of production of infectious virus. The data suggest the possibility that the disappearance of tubular structures may be related to the active production of infectious virus.