چكيده لاتين :
Background: Sodium valproate, an anticonvulsant drug, is
reported to stimulate Human Immunodeficiency Virus type I
and Human cytomegalovirus replication. Since epileptic patients
undergoing sodium valproate therapy may suffer from
various virus infections, the effect of this drug on replication
of viruses especially those affecting neuronal tissues such as
Herpes simplex virus type I is worthy of investigation.
Methods: Viral replication was studied by quantal response
method. Electron microscopy was also performed on cell
monolayers treated with the drug and infected with the virus.
Results: Significant reduction in viral infectivity was observed
in cell cultures exposed to 0.5-2 mM of sodium valproate
either one hr before or after infection. The corresponding
electron microscopic examination revealed a very few intracytoplasmic
enveloped virions and a marked reduction in
the number of intracytoplasmic nucleocapsids in drug-treated
virus infected cells compared with those of infected control.
However, significant stimulation of virus replication was
found upon treatment of cells with I mM (p(LESS THAN)O.O I) and 2 mM
(p(LESS THAN)O.OO I) of the drug 24 hours prior to infection. No remarkable
change was seen in corresponding electron micrographs.
Conclusion: Although the ultimate outcome of this study
awaits in vivo assessments, possible stimulation of Herpes
simplex virus type I replication by sodium valproate should
be considered by clinicians prescribing this drug.
