RAT MODEL FOR POLY-AUTOIMMUNITY

Staykova Staykova

doi:10.3844/ajisp.2012.84.87

Abstract

Around 30% of the male PVG rats have very low testosterone levels. Upon immunisation with myelin basic protein in complete Freund’s adjuvant they develop experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and adjuvant arthritis. The androgen insensitive syndrome in these rats could be used in studies on poly-autoimmunity as well as in studies on variations in the sexual differentiation of brain and behavior.

Highlights

There is vast literature on neuro-immuno-endocrynology with excellent reviews on multiple-autoimmunity, i.e., the existence of several autoimmune diseases (Bergsteinsdottir et al, 2000; Rojas-Villarraga et al, 2012; NNE, 2012)
While studying the role of Nitric Oxide (NO) in the development of The Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the DA, Lew, PVG and BN rat (Willenborg et al, 1999; 2007; Staykova et al, 2008), it became clear that about 30 % of the male PVG rats develop EAE and Adjuvant Arthritis (AA). (In 18 years of experimental work, in only seven male Lewis rats, did I observe swelling of the ankles after active induction of EAE)
The histopathologic picture of the lumbar spinal cords taken from male PVG rats, with normal testosterone levels or with testosterone levels below the sensitivity of the test (Fig. 1 table), was the same-with meningeal mononuclear cell inflammation (Fig. 1A and C)

Summary

Introduction

There is vast literature on neuro-immuno-endocrynology with excellent reviews on multiple-autoimmunity, i.e., the existence of several autoimmune diseases (Bergsteinsdottir et al, 2000; Rojas-Villarraga et al, 2012; NNE, 2012). (In 18 years of experimental work, in only seven male Lewis rats, did I observe swelling of the ankles after active induction of EAE). While studying the role of Nitric Oxide (NO) in the development of The Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the DA, Lew, PVG and BN rat (Willenborg et al, 1999; 2007; Staykova et al, 2008), it became clear that about 30 % of the male PVG rats develop EAE and Adjuvant Arthritis (AA). The aim of this brief report is to point to the naturally occurring gonadal steroids’ disbalance in a high percentage of the male PVG rats, which could be used in studies on poly-autoimmunity as well as in studies on sexual differentiation of brain and behavior While studying the role of Nitric Oxide (NO) in the development of The Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the DA, Lew, PVG and BN rat (Willenborg et al, 1999; 2007; Staykova et al, 2008), it became clear that about 30 % of the male PVG rats develop EAE and Adjuvant Arthritis (AA). (In 18 years of experimental work, in only seven male Lewis rats, did I observe swelling of the ankles after active induction of EAE).

Methods

Results

Conclusion