Premium
Restoration of conduction in the spinal roots correlates with clinical recovery from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Author(s) -
Chalk Jonathan B.,
McCombe Pamela A.,
Pender Michael P.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.880181005
Subject(s) - experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis , spinal cord , multiple sclerosis , medicine , central nervous system , peripheral nervous system , myelin , encephalomyelitis , paralysis , nerve root , pathology , anesthesia , neuroscience , anatomy , immunology , surgery , biology , psychiatry
In the Lewis rat, acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by inoculation with myelin basic protein (MBP) and adjuvants is characterized by tail and hindlimb weakness that resolves spontaneously after several days. In rats with neurological signs of this form of EAE (MBP‐EAE) we have previously demonstrated demyelination and nerve conduction block in the proximal peripheral nervous system (PNS) and in the central nervous system (CNS). The present study was performed to assess conduction in the PNS and CNS, after recovery from acute MBP‐EAE, using direct recordings from surgically exposed spinal roots and spinal cord dorsal columns. The study revealed that 1–2 weeks after clinical recovery from tail paralysis there was almost complete restoration of conduction in the sacral spinal roots but persistent severe conduction abnormalities in the dorsal columns. Significant restoration of conduction through the dorsal columns occurred over the following 2 weeks. These findings indicate that PNS conduction block due to a demyelinating polyradiculitis is a major cause of the neurological signs of acute MBP‐EAE in the Lewis rat.© 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.