Preliminary analysis of cell and serum-induced demyelination in vitro using a syngeneic system

Previous studies on immune-mediated demyelination in vitro have usually tested sera and lymphoid cells in heterologous systems. The present study involved the examination of CNS cultures of SJL/J mouse spinal cord exposed to sera and lymphoid cells isolated from animals of the same strain previously injected with syngeneic spinal cord homogenate (SSCH) to induce acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Examination of treated versus control cultures by light and electron microscopy at varying time points after exposure showed that spleen cells from animals with EAE produced significant demyelination and oligodendroglial cell destruction. Lymph node cells and sera from the same animals showed the same type of demyelination without marked oligodendroglial cell damage. The degree of myelin damage induced by spleen cells and sera did not correlate with the clinical status of the animal but a slight positive correlation was noted with lymph node cells. Cells and sera from control animals did not induce significant demyelination. These results suggest that in this syngeneic mouse system, there was a differential effect among cells from spleens and lymph nodes, and serum. This syngeneic system might allow for more meaningful pathologic and genetic analyses of immune-mediated demyelination.