Cellular targets of LCMV within the developing brain depend strongly on host age

Shown here are sections through the cerebral cortex of rat pups infected with LCMV on a variety of postnatal ages and immunohistochemically stained for LCMV antigens. [A] and [B] Infection on PD 1 leads to a widespread and heavy infection of neurons (arrows) and astrocytes (arrowheads) throughout the cerebral cortex. [C] and [D] When the infection occurs just 3 days later, on PD 4, infection is confined to astrocytes (arrowheads), and no neurons are infected. [E] and [F] Infection on PD 21 leads to no infection of any cell type within the cerebral cortex. Magnification bars represent 300 um in [A], [C], and [E], and represent 50 um in [B], [D], and [F]. (This figure is reproduced from Bonthius and Perlman, PLoS Pathogens 2007; 3:1541-50.)