Response to gallamine: an indicator of diminished neuromuscular function in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis

A test for diminished neuromuscular function in animals with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis is described. Within minutes following an injection of gallamine triethiodide, mice exhibit a dramatic yet transient response which is dose-dependent. Mice previously inoculated with acetylcholine receptor are approximately twice as sensitive to gallamine as normal mice. Positive results have been found in over 80% of receptor-inoculated BALB/c mice and in 94% of C57Bl/6 mice.