Influence of gangliosides on experimental allergic neuritis

The development of myelin-induced experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) in Lewis rats can be depressed and delayed by adding a ganglioside mixture (GM1, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b) to the immunization compound; however, gangliosides may enhance the induction of adjuvant arthritis. Antibodies against multiple gangliosides are produced in rats after immunization with gangliosides after addition of myelin, but only low titers can be detected in animals immunized with myelin and complete Freund's adjuvant alone. We conclude that this antibody production is not the result of peripheral nerve inflammation but depends rather from external applied gangliosides.