Chronic relapsing EAE in guinea pigs: IgG index and oligoclonal bands in cerebrospinal fluid and sera

IgG and albumin levels were quantitated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and sera from chronic relapsing (R)-EAE animals using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The animals showed increased CSF IgG compared to that of age-matched animals injected with complete Freund's adjuvant. However, the CSF IgG index suggested no significant increase in IgG synthesis within the central nervous system of R-EAE animals. Matching CSF and sera from R-EAE animals, when compared in immunofixation after isoelectric focusing, showed identical oligoclonal IgG band patterns. Although the clinical and morphologic findings in R-EAE are similar to those seen in multiple sclerosis, the site of IgG synthesis in these two diseases appears to be different.