Ganglioside syndrome, a new autoimmune neurologic disorder, experimentally induced with brain gangliosides

Rabbits intensively immunized with total bovine brain gangliosides or a certain molecular species of gangliosides, such as GD(1a) and GM(1), respectively, in complete Freud's adjuvant developed a variety of neurologic symptoms and signs which closely resembled experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, i.e., a sluggish righting reflex, muscular weakness, hindleg paralysis (flaccid in the case of GD(1a) and rigid in GM(1)) and body weight loss, frequently followed by death. Histological examinations of GD(1a)-immunized rabbits showed extensive degeneration of the peripheral nerves, including breakdown of myelin and fragmentation of axis cylinders. In central nervous tissues, however, only mild damage was observed in some cases. Similar neurologic symptoms and signs were also induced in guinea pigs. The results suggest that this syndrome might be induced by a cell-mediated autoimmune response to gangliosides.