Similar factors occuring in the “ordinary” and the hyperacute form of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the rat and the dog

Abstract

A hyperacute form of EAE was produced in Holtzman albino male rats and in healthy adult mongrel dogs. 1. 1. The incidence of hyperacute symptoms of EAE occured in eighty-three percent of the rats and sixty-three percent of the dogs. 2. 2. In dogs which contracted the disease, plasma corticoids and free fatty acids were increased significantly beginning at the onset of the symptoms ( 7 days after inoculation) and continued to rise during the progress of the disease. There was also noted a marked decrease in the body weight at the same time. 3. 3. Weight growth curves in the rats were slowed after the onset of symptoms. The plasma concentrations of 11-hydroxycorticosteroids showed an increase at the height of the symptoms. No significant difference in free fatty acids was noted. 4. 4. Ergotamine tartrate was administered to rats which had received intraperitoneal inoculations of guinea pig spinal cord homogenate. A dose of 100mg/kg intraperitoneally triweekly reduced the incidence of paralysis and other neurologic signs. 5. 5. When the same experiment was repeated in rats which had received inoculations of dog spinal cord homogenate, these animals failed to contract EAE, and weight curves remained constant in all 4 groups. 6. 6. It appears that a similarity exist between hyperacute EAE and ordinary EAE. Additionally, ergotamine tartrate had some suppressive action in both forms.