Motor neuron destruction in guinea pigs immunized with bovine spinal cord ventral horn homogenate: experimental autoimmune gray matter disease.
Guinea pigs immunized with bovine spinal cord ventral horn homogenate develop muscle weakness with electromyographic and morphologic evidence of denervation. Pathological examination demonstrates a loss of motoneurons and scattered inflammatory foci primarily localized to the spinal cord. Immunohistochemical techniques document the presence of immunoglobulin G at the motor end plate and around the external membrane and within the cytoplasm of motoneurons. This syndrome of experimental autoimmune gray matter disease (EAGMD) differs from experimental autoimmune motor neuron disease induced by inoculation with purified motoneurons and also differs from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. The existence of two different forms of immune-mediated motoneuron destruction suggests that a number of cytoplasmic and membrane antigens may give rise to an immunologically based attack on the motor system.
Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
J I
JI
Engelhardt
S H
SH
Appel
J M
JM
Killian
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002417:Cattle; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism; D004576:Electromyography; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007114:Immunization; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D010487:Periaqueductal Gray / Q000473:pathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D000906:Antibodies; D003176:Complement C3; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein