Distribution of mouse adenovirus type 1 in intraperitoneally and intranasally infected adult outbred mice.

In situ nucleic acid hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the histological localization of mouse adenovirus type 1 (MAV-1) during acute infection of adult mice infected either intraperitoneally or intranasally with 1,000 PFU of wild-type virus. Organ samples were collected from days 1 to 17 postinfection for the intraperitoneally infected mice and from days 1 to 13 for the intranasally infected mice. Endothelial cells of the brain and spinal cord showed extensive evidence of MAV-1 infection. Endothelial cells in lungs, kidneys, and other organs were also positive for MAV-1, indicating a widespread involvement of the systemic circulation. The presence of viral nucleic acid and/or antigen was also demonstrated in lymphoid tissue. The spleens, Peyer's patches, and peripheral lymph nodes showed positive staining at various times postinfection in mice infected by either route. Virus-infected cells in the spleen exhibited a stellate shape and were localized to the red pulp and germinal centers, suggesting that they are cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system.