Two hundred nanograms of total RNA were reverse transcribed in a 10 μl reaction volume. One microliter

of the RT reaction (equivalent to 20 ng of RNA) was subsequently used for the PCR, as described previously ( Cunningham et al., 2007). The housekeeping gene glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was measured in each sample using Applied Biosystems Rodent GAPDH Taqman Kit. All PCR data were normalised to the expression of GAPDH. More detailed description of these methods, and full primer sequences, are available in supplemental information. Core body temperature was measured using a thermocouple Compound C datasheet rectal probe (Thermalert TH5, Physitemp, Clifton, New Jersey). Temperature measurements were made on three separate occasions in the week prior to poly I:C injections to habituate mice to the procedure and thus minimise the effects of stress. Temperatures were recorded at baseline and then at 4, 9, 13 and 24 h

following i.p. challenge with poly I:C. Following systemic challenge with poly I:C, ME7 or NBH-inoculated mice were assessed for their co-ordination of motor function. The horizontal bar was designed to assess forelimb muscle strength and co-ordination, and consisted of a 26 cm long metal bar, 0.2 cm diameter, supported by a 19.5 cm high wooden column at each end. Each mouse was held by the tail, placed with its front paws at the central point of the bar, and rapidly released. Mice were scored based on whether they fell, held on for 60 s, or reached a platform on a supporting column, Selleck ISRIB with the latter two results scoring the maximum of 60 s. The inverted screen (Kondziela, 1964) assessed muscular strength for all four limbs. It consisted of a wooden frame, 43 cm square, covered with wire mesh (12 mm squares of 1 mm diameter wire). The mouse was placed on the screen and this was then slowly inverted.

The time it took for the PIK-5 mouse to fall was measured, up to a criterion of 60 s. Padding was provided to cushion mice falling from either apparatus. Behavioural data was analysed by repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc analysis after significant main effects. Peripheral ELISA data and CNS transcription data were analysed by two-way ANOVA with ME7/NBH and poly I:C/saline or time post-poly I:C as factors, with Bonferroni post hoc tests. One-way ANOVAs were also performed where the inclusion of multiple time points post-poly I:C did not allow a full factorial analysis. Cell counts were analysed by one-way ANOVA for IBA-1, IL-1β and TUNEL. Intra-peritoneal treatment of NBH and ME7 animals (18 weeks post-inoculation) with poly I:C resulted in the robust transcription of IFNβ in the hippocampus 6 h following administration of poly I:C (Fig. 1a). IFNβ was transcribed more robustly in ME7 animals than in NBH animals given the same poly I:C challenge. There was an effect of disease (F = 7.93, df 1, 14, p = 0.0137), an effect of poly I:C (F = 17.