Clinical neurology and brain histopathology in NZB/NZW F1 lupus mice

Active generalized systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), clinical neurological deficits and histological lesions in the brains were present in New Zealand Black/New Zealand White (NZB/W) F1 mice at 10 to 18 months of age. Clinical neurological abnormalities of the central nervous system (CNS) were detected with a standardized neurological examination and scoring procedure. Active generalized SLE was present in all mice of this group, as determined by elevated serum anti-DNA antibodies and by the presence of glomerulonephritis. High titres of serum anti-cardiolipin antibodies were present in almost all mice. On histopathological examination, most of the brains had prominent mononuclear cell infiltration around cerebral and hippocampal blood vessels and in the choroid plexus. A subgroup of these mice, having higher clinical neurological scores, had correspondingly higher brain histopathological scores. The neurological and histological abnormalities were compatible with a diagnosis of CNS SLE. In contrast, 2-month-old NZB/W, 5-month-old C57Bl/6 and 14-month-old C57Bl/6 mice had low neurological scores, low serum anti-DNA antibody titres, low or absent anti-cardiolipin antibodies and no evidence of brain or kidney pathological lesions.