A morphological and functional assessment of Mycobacterium leprae‐induced nerve damage in a guinea‐pig model of leprous neuritis

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Abstract
Nerve damage, resembling that caused by Mycobacterium leprae in man, was created by the injection of cobalt–irradiated M. leprae organisms into the tibial nerve of guinea–pigs. Assessment of nerve damage was made by clinical, electrophysiological and morphometric means at intervals up to 13 weeks after injection. Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of neuropeptide–containing fibres in the skin of the foot was also carried out. Significant nerve damage occurred 3 weeks after injection of M. leprae organisms. Motor and sensory functional loss peaked at 5 weeks after injection, and there was a significant decrease of peptide–immunoreactive nerves in all skin compartments. The nerve damage was self–limiting and functional recovery had occurred by 13 weeks. The model shows many of the features found in the nerve damage of treated leprosy patients.

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