[Morphologic changes in the central nervous system of monkeys with chronic experimental allergic encephalomyelitis]

The authors attained a chronic experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in monkeys (macacca rhesus) by immunizing them with small doses of encephalitogenic mixtures. A histological study displayed large foci of demyelinization which had the appearance of plaques with gliosis and a developing gliofibrosis which is similar to those seen in disseminated sclerosis. The paper shows the existence of transitional forms between plaques and perivascular foci of demyelinization. The suggestion is made concerning the mechanism of the formation of plaques by a confluence of perivascular foci. There is also a constant lesion of visual nerves--inflammation and a massive demyelinization. The achieved data are considered as a model of disseminated sclerosis.