Experimental polyneuropathy produced in guinea-pigs immunized against sulfatide

Antibodies to sulfatide are associated with polyneuropathy. To investigate the role of anti-sulfatide antibodies in this neurological disorder, guinea-pigs were immunized with sulfatide, and their behavior, serology and pathology were compared with animals injected with simple Freund's adjuvant. Eleven of 13 guinea-pigs that developed raised serum anti-sulfatide antibodies after five injections of sulfatide showed definite motor weakness. Demyelination of peripheral nerves and immunoglobulin deposits at peripheral nerve myelin sheath were found in symptomatic animals only. Functional impairment of the animals was significantly correlated with serum anti-sulfatide IgG levels and pathological findings in nerve fiber studies. Control animals and animals that received 1-3 injections of sulfatide were behaviorally and pathologically normal.