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A Quantitative Assay for Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis in the Rat Based on Permeability of Spinal Cords to ¹²⁵I-Human -Globulin¹

From the Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104

Abstract

We have developed a quantitative assay for experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the rat based on permeability of the spinal cord to ¹²⁵I-human -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. Using the assay, we have shown a direct correlation 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. Furthermore, strains of rats susceptible to EAE demonstrated permeability changes, whereas resistant rats did not. In addition, we demonstrated by permeability and histologic criteria that guinea pig myelin basic protein emulsified with incomplete Freund's adjuvant is encephalitogenic in the Lewis rat. We also demonstrated that recipients of passive transfer of sensitized cells develop permeability changes along with histologic lesions. We conclude that 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.

Footnotes

¹ This work was supported by grant RG-1161-A-3 of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and Grant NS 05572-14 from the National Institutes of Health.