Induction of allergic encephalomyelitis in rhesus monkeys treated with anti monkey thymocyte sera

Treatment with rabbit anti-moneky thymus cell sera whether limited (3 days) or extensive (15 days), did not alter the development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rhesus monkeys challenged with myelin basic protein or central nervous system tissue (CNS) when compared to similarly challenged control monkeys treated with normal rabbit serum. No consistent difference in disease incidence or intensity as measured by incubation period, neurologic signs or CNS pathology was observed between experimental and control monkeys. This finding is in contrast to previous reports on the efficacy of ATS treatment in prevention of EAE in rodents.