Abstract
Guinea pigs were immunized with either guinea pig whole brain homogenate (WBH), isolated myelin, or basic protein (BP). The immunization procedures included injections of antigenic preparations either in complete Freund’s adjuvants (CFA), in incomplete Freund’s adjuvants (IFA), or in both. The incidence of disease (clinical and histological) was noted along with production of antibodies detected by complement fixation (CF) and by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) against the three antigenic preparations (WBH, myelin, and BP). The following results were obtained: The three CNS preparations were encephalitogenic when administered in CFA. They also induced CF antibody production against the 3 preparations. In particular, previously undescribed CF antibodies induced by and against BP were detected and identified as IgG<sub>2</sub> (non-IgM). Immunizations in IFA were innocuous and even prevented the pathogenic effects of injections in CFA. Anti-BP PCA antibodies (IgGi, non-IgE) induced by BP – especially when injected in IFA – were never induced by WBH. BP is the most efficient and myelin the least efficient for prevention of the disease. Injections of BP in IFA are of protective value up to 15 days after injection in CFA. However, several preinjections in IFA before the one in CFA are the most efficient. In the monoantigenic system (BP) a relation has been noted between the incidence of protected animals and that of PCA antibodies among several groups, while the intensity of histological lesions of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis seemed related to the median titer of CF antibodies. These results appear to be an example and consequence of immune deviation (also termed ‘split tolerance’ or ‘contrasensitization’) and support the view of a general balance between the rejection reaction and the facilitation reaction.
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