[Study on animal models of immune mediate motoneuron disease]

Swine motoneurons (SMN) were isolated from fresh spinal cords of pigs. Homogenates of these SMN or fresh anterior horns of pigs (SAH) as immunogens were inoculated to guinea pigs or Lewis rats and Wistar rats respectively. The impairments of motion were observed in the immunized guinea pig four months after the fifth inoculation of SMN, in the immunized Lewis rats after the first or second inoculation of SAH and in the Wistar rat after the third inoculation of SAH respectively. Degeneration and loss of motoneurons in the spinal cords of these symptomatic animals were found histologically. Antibodies against motoneurons of guinea pig and rat can be detected in sera of these symptomatic animals with immunocytochemical method respectively. In control guinea pigs, Lewis rats and Wistar rats there were no symptom, and did not found degeneration of motoneurons in the spinal cords of these control animals. Antibodies against motoneurons can not be detected in the sera of these control animals. The results indicated immune mediate guinea pig or rat models for MND can be established with pure SMN or impure SMN as immunogens. It was shown the conservative homology between antigenic structures of lower motoneurons in pigs and guinea pigs or rats. The pathogenesis in immunized animals with SAH is faster than that in immunized animals with SMN at least in terms of the appearance of symptoms. The Lewis rats produced symptoms first and the incidence ratio of symptomatic animals in Lewis rats was the highest. The immunized Wistar rats produced symptoms a little bit slower.