Myelin lesions in the rabbit eye model as a bystander effect of herpes simplex and visna virus sensitization

Abstract
Rabbits were immunized with herpes simplex and visna virus in complete Freund's adjuvant. Uv-inactivated herpes virus and the purified visna virus protein p 25 injected intraocularly into these rabbits elicited a moderate inflammatory cell infiltration in the epiretinal myelinated nerve fiber bundles accompanied by signs of demyelination. It is therefore apparent that also viral antigen can induce myelin lesions as a socalled “bystander effect” of a cell-mediated immune response (bystander demyelination).