Experimental induction of amyloidosis by bovine amyloid fibrils in Sore Hock rabbits.

We report the experimental amyloidosis associated with administration of bovine amyloid fibrils in rabbits afflicted by Sore Hock (SH), which is ulcerative pododermatitis. Two groups of SH-afflicted rabbits were subjected to five inflammatory stimulations at intervals of 4 days by intraepithelial injection of a mixture consisting of Freund's complete adjuvant and lipopolysaccharide. One group of rabbits was administered amyloid in conjunction with the last inflammatory stimulation and the other group was not. For additional control, two groups were designed. A third group consisted of rabbits without SH, which were subjected to five stimulations and were administered amyloid. A fourth group consisted of SH-afflicted rabbits, subjected to 0-4 stimulations and administered amyloid. Amyloid depositions were observed in SH-afflicted rabbits, which had been stimulated five times and given amyloid (18/18). In the 4th group, only one rabbit, which had been subjected to four stimulations, showed amyloid depositions. No amyloid depositions were observed in the other rabbits. These results suggest that bovine AA amyloid fibrils have an amyloid-enhancing factor-like effect on SH-afflicted rabbits.