QUANTITATIVE ASSAY FOR EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS IN THE RAT BASED ON PERMEABILITY OF SPINAL CORDS TO I-125-HUMAN GAMMA-GLOBULIN

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 122  (3) , 920-925
Abstract
A quantitative assay was developed for experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the rat based on permeability of the spinal cord to 125I-human .gamma.-globulin (HGG). This assay is highly reproducible and eliminates many of the drawbacks of assaying for EAE on the basis of clinical and/or histologic criteria. A direct correlation was shown between onset of histologic changes in the spinal cord and onset of permeability changes in the spinal cord. No rat without histologic lesions manifest permeability alterations, and all rats with histologic lesions did manifest increased permeability to 125I-HGG. Strains of rats susceptibility rats susceptible to EAE demonstrated permeability changes, whereas resistant rats did not. Guinea pig myelin basic protein emulsified with incomplete Freund''s adjuvant is encephalitogenic in the Lewis rat. Recipients of passive transfer of sensitized cells develop permeability changes along with histologic lesions. Measuring permeability to 125I-HGG in the spinal cords of rats is a valid assay for EAE and it improves upon current indices of EAE in that it is readily quantifiable.