title: [Features of pathological changes in the non-myelin sheath of rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the pathological changes in the non-myelin sheath by observing histological damages to the neurofilament protein and apoptosis of neurons in rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: control and EAE (24 rats in each group). Behavioral changes were observed. Inflammation reactions and demyelination were observed by hematoxylin eosin staining and LOYEZ staining.The level of neurofilament was detected by immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis of the neuron in the spinal cord was detected by TUNEL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Behavioral and histological results confirmed that the model of EAE rats was prepared successfully. In the EAE group, typical morphological features of axonal damage (sparsed axonal density, axonal distortion, axonal transection and even axonal disappearance) were found from the seventh day after immunization and the morphological changes were the most obvious on the fourteenth day. Neurofilament density in the EAE group was significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.01) at 7, 14 and 21 days after immunization. The neuronal apoptosis index in the EAE group at 7, 14 and 21 days after immunization was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to inflammatory demyelination, axonal damage and neuronal apoptosis can be observed in the early stage of EAE. Pathological changes may be associated with neurological dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yu-Jia
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Shi-Jie
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016900:Neurofilament Proteins