Suppression of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in offspring of DA and Wistar rats following immunization of mother with encephalitogen

Immunization of female rats with encephalitogen before gestation, during gestation, and during lactation differentially decreased susceptibility to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in their offspring. The most pronounced suppression, revealed by lowered incidence and weaker clinical signs of the disease, was observed in offspring of mothers immunized before gestation and during lactation in both Dark August (EAE-susceptible), and Wistar (EAE-relatively resistant) rat strains. Induction of EAE in mothers during pregnancy only delayed the onset of the disease in DA progeny. The overall effect on EAE in offspring did not depend on the disease intensity in mothers. Our results suggest that anti-myelin basic protein (MBP) antibodies passively transferred from mothers are not responsible for the observed protection in offspring.