OPTIC NEURITIS IN CHRONIC RELAPSING EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS IN BIOZZI ABH MICE - DEMYELINATION AND FAST AXONAL-TRANSPORT CHANGES IN DISEASE

The encephalitogenicity of optic nerve tissue was demonstrated in Bioz zi ABH (H-2(dql)) mice. Acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) occurred in 11/14 animals and 4/5 exhibited relapse. The involve ment of the optic nerve in spinal cord homogenate induced chronic rela psing EAE (CREAE) was demonstrated by mononuclear cell infiltration an d myelin degradation in the optic nerve prior to and during clinical d isease. During the relapse phase gross pathological assessment reveale d swollen and translucent plaques on the optic nerves. Advanced lesion s showed widespread demyelination. astrocytic gliosis and fibrotic cha nges of the blood vessels. Physiologically, the fast axonal transport of proteins from the retina to the optic nerve and superior colliculus was significantly decreased during relapse. The association of inflam mation and demyelination with physiological deficit iri the optic nerv e highlights the usefulness of this model in the study of multiple scl erosis in which acute monosymptomatic unilateral optic neuritis is a c ommon manifestation. Furthermore. the novel induction of CREAE with op tic nerve homogenate suggests that optic nerve antigens play a signifi cant rule in the pathophysiology and progression of neurological disea se ill CREAE which may be relevant to studies of optic neuritis in mul tiple sclerosis. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.