An immune-mediated guinea pig model for lower motor neuron disease.

Guinea pigs were immunized with motor neurons from swine spinal cords. One month after the last of five serial immunizations, the recipients showed progressive weight loss. By seven months of age, five of the six immunized animals had died. Pathological examination showed destruction of motor neurons in the spinal cords without demyelination, but with atrophy of the related skeletal muscle groups. By immunofluorescent and histochemical tests, serum from the guinea pigs was shown to react with motor neurons of swine and guinea pig cord. This experimental disorder of guinea pigs appeared to be based on the immunologically mediated destruction of motor neurons and it may serve as a model for the human motor neuron diseases.