EXPERIMENTAL MYOCARDITIS IN THE GUINEA-PIG

In guinea-pigs, myocarditis was induced under experimental conditions by immunizing the animals with rabbit skeletal muscle myosin-beta. The salient histopathological features were foci of perivascular lymphono nonuclear aggregates, necrosis, and degeneration of myocardial cells. Antimyosin-beta antibodies in the immune complexes were demonstrated i n the sera of the guinea-pigs. An immune-complex-mediated tissue-injur y is proposed in the pathogenesis of myocarditis.