A Study of Experimental Encephalomyelitis Employing Mammalian and Nonmammalian Nervous Tissues

Three species of nonmammalian nervous tissue (frog, snake and turtle) failed to elicit experimental encephalomyelitis in the Hartley guinea pig, in contrast to the known and demonstrable paralytogenic activity of rabbit brain for this host. Both mammalian (rabbit) and nonmammalian (frog, snake and turtle) nervous tissues stimulated the production of CF antibrain antibodies in rabbits. Such antibodies cross reacted with and could be absorbed by either mammalian or nonmammalian brain. Thus, it is concluded that the CF antibrain antibodies are stimulated by at least one antigenic component common to both mammalian and nonmammalian nervous tissue. Both mammalian and nonmammalian brain tissues elicited CF antibodies; only mammalian brain produced paralysis. Thus, these CF antibrain antibodies appear to be directed against an antigen(s) of a nonparalytic character and would appear to play no direct role in initiating encephalopathy.