Abstract
Summary
Syrian hamsters sensitized to allogeneic or xenogeneic neuroantigen emulsified in CFA, even with supplemental pertussis vaccine adjuvant, exhibit a low order of susceptibility to EAE. Splenectomy does not alter the pattern of susceptibility. Hamster CNS tissue is encephalitogenic for other species, showing that gross deficiency of “target organ” antigen is not the issue. Hamsters sensitized to xenogeneic CNS produce CF brain antibodies, suggesting that deficiency in production of circulating antibody to neuroantigen is no special problem. Two possibilities are suggested as the basis for the limited capacity of the hamster to develop EAE. One possibility is a deficiency in mediator(s) essential for full-blown inflammatory reactions to neuroantigen. The other possibility is that antigens in intact hamster CNS may be enveloped by unusually restrictive membranes curtailing interaction of immune responses with “target” neuroantigen(s).
Mr. Robert Ooghe, a medical student at the University of Virginia, and research technicians Mr. Norman Didakow and Mrs. Melva Hansrote played an important role in the initial phases of this work. The authors especially want to acknowledge the expert assistance of Mrs. Audrey Biddick, Mrs. Carrie Clark and Mrs. Cecelia Walker concerning the histologic studies and the help of Mrs. Geane Kraus in preparing the typescript.
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