Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Water, sodium and potassium concentration in spinal cord and hemispheres and...

Water content, Na+, K+ and Cl- concentration were measured in rats with experimentally produced allergic encephalomyelitis. Increase of water content by 10%, accumulation of Na+ by 13%, of Cl- by 20% and decrease of K+ by 10% was observed in the spinal cord, but no substantial changes were found in the brain tissue. The hydration of spinal cord is accompanied by perivascular infiltrates. Dexamethasone, administered from day 5, after injecting sensitising encephalitogenic basic protein, effects normal levels of water content and Na+, K+ and Cl- concentration.