Spontaneous chemiluminescence activity of peripheral blood cells during experimental allergic neuritis (EAN)

In 30 Lewis rats the time course of spontaneous monocyte and granulocyte chemiluminescence activity (CLA) during myelin-induced experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) was studied. CLA of blood and peritoneal cells, and clinical, histopathological and electrophysiological findings were compared with data from 14 animals immunized with complete Freund's adjuvant and ten normal Lewis rats. About 12 days post-immunization there was a significant (p less than 0.003) rise in monocyte, but not in granulocyte CLA in EAN animals. CLA correlated significantly (p less than 0.02) with infiltrate formation in nerve roots, preceding clinical or electrophysiological signs of disease by 1-2 days. There was no increase in peritoneal monocyte CLA, which was consistently higher than blood monocyte CLA (p less than 0.002).