Effect of experimental allergic neuritis serum on normal rat peripheral nerve

To study the possible in vivo activity of experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) serum, we injected serum from rats immunized with whole nerve, P2 protein or adjuvant alone into the sciatic nerve of normal Lewis rats. Serum from whole nerve and P2-immunized animals produced demyelination 24 h after injection. Only high-titer anti-P2 serum was active and no control serum had this effect. Anti-P2 antibodies or other serum factors may contribute to the pathogenesis of whole nerve and P2-induced EAN.