Experimental allergic neuritis in the SJL/J mouse: induction of severe andreproducible disease with bovine peripheral nerve myelin and pertussis toxin with or without interleukin-12

We report a reproducible model of experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) with severe clinical signs and consistent pathological features in mice. Pertus sis toxin (PT) in the presence or absence of murine recombinant interleukin -12 (mrIL-12) was used as an adjuvant with bovine peripheral nerve myelin ( BPNM) to induce clinical EAN in SJL/J mice. After immunization with a combi nation of BPNM in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and PT, mice developed s evere consistent signs of EAN. The additional treatment of immunized mice w ith mrIL-12 prolonged the course of EAN characterized by earlier clinical s igns of the disease and delayed the recovery stage. Mice injected with BPNM and CFA without PT developed mild clinical signs. Histological examination of the caudae equinae and the sciatic nerves taken from mice with clinical signs of EAN during the recovery stage revealed severe demyelination, remy elination and remnants of mononuclear cell infiltration. Moderate to severe EAN can be induced in SJL/J mice by the injection of a combination of BPNM in CFA and PT. This model can provide a better understanding of mechanism of demyelination in infiltrating peripheral neuropathy. (C) 2000 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.