To investigate whether HIV3B and HIV Ada-M can infect cultured human dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, organotypic and dissociated human fetal DRG cell culture models were established. On the 14th day, organotypic cultured DRG explants were exposed to HIV3B or HIV Ada-M for another 14 days. Outgrowth and morphology of neurites were observed with phase contrast microscope at different time of cultured age. On the 3rd day, dissociated cultured DRG cells were exposed to HIV3B or HIV Ada-M for another 3 days. After that, dissociated DRG cells were processed for microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) labeling and observed with fluorescent microscopy. DRG explants on the 28th day and dissociated DRG cells on the 6th day, the samples were processed for electronic microscopic observation. Both organotypic and dissociated DRG cultures were cultured continuously in culture media as controls. Immature HIV-like particles were found in organotypic cultured DRG neurons. Many HIV-like particles were found in dissociated cultured DRG neurons. HIV infection could not cause morphological and ultrastruc( )l alterations on both organotypic and dissociated cultured DRG neurons. These discoveries will be valuable for studies on pathogenic (mee)hanisms of HIV infection and/or HIV associated peripheral neuropathies.