Abstract
Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) has been widely studied as a model of multiple sclerosis, a central nervous system (CNS) disease of unknown aetiology. The clinical features of both EAE and multiple sclerosis provide the only guide to the progress and severity of these diseases, and are used to assess the response to treatment. In such comparisons the clinical features of EAE are assumed to be due to lesions in the CNS, but in this disease there is also histological evidence of damage to the peripheral nervous system1–8. However, the functional consequences of such peripheral lesions have been entirely ignored. To examine this we have studied nerve conduction in rabbits with EAE. We report here that most of the large diameter afferent fibres are blocked in the region of the dorsal root ganglion and at the dorsal root entry zone, thus accounting for the loss of tendon jerks and also, through the severe loss of proprioceptive information, the ataxia of these animals. We conclude that whenever clinical comparisons are made between EAE and multiple sclerosis, the pathophysiology associated with the histological damage of the peripheral nervous system must be taken into account.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Freund, J., Stern, E. R. & Pisani, T. M. J. Immun. 57, 179–194 (1947).
Ferraro, A. & Roizin, L. J. Neuropath. exp. Neurol. 13, 60–89 (1954).
Waksman, B. H. & Adams, R. D. J. exp. Med. 102, 213–236 (1955).
Wisniewski, H., Prineas, J. & Raine, C. S. Lab. Invest. 21, 105–118 (1969).
Waksman, B. H. & Adams, R. D. J. Neuropath. exp. Neurol. 15, 293–333 (1956).
Raine, C. S., Wisniewski, H. & Prineas, J. Lab. Invest. 21, 316–327 (1969).
Madrid, R. E. & Wisniewski, H. M. J. Neurocytol. 7, 265–282 (1978).
Lassmann, H., Kitz, K. & Wisniewski, H. M. in Search For the Cause of Multiple Sclerosis and Other Chronic Diseases of the Central Nervous System (ed. Boese, A.) 96–104 (Verlag Chemie, Weinheim, 1980).
Morrison, L. R. Archs Neurol. Psychiat., Chicago 58, 391–416 (1947).
Rivers, T. M. & Schwentker, F. F. J. exp. Med. 61, 689–702 (1935).
Wisniewski, H. M. & Keith, A. B. Ann. Neurol. 1, 144–148 (1977).
Raine, C. S. in Progress in Neuropathology Vol. 3 (ed. Zimmerman, H. M.) 225–251 (Grune & Stratton, New York, 1976).
Alvord, E. C. Jr, Shaw, C. M., Hruby, S. & Kies, M. W. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 122, 333–345 (1965).
Levine, S. & Sowinski, R. in The Suppression of Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis and Multiple Sclerosis (eds Davison, A. N. & Cuzner, M. L.) 199–209 (Academic, London, 1980).
Rasminsky, M. Archs Neurol. 28, 287–292 (1973).
Bostock, H., Sears, T. A. & Sherratt, R. M. J. Physiol., Lond. 313, 301–315 (1981).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pender, M., Sears, T. Conduction block in the peripheral nervous system in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Nature 296, 860–862 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/296860a0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/296860a0
This article is cited by
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.