Antigenicity of galactocerebroside in experimental allergic demyelinating diseases.

Monkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs, and rats were inoculated with GC, carrier protein and complete Freund's adjuvant. Clinical and pathological changes were obtained in monkeys and rabbits, but not, to date, in guinea pigs and rats. In rabbits, alterations were restricted to the PNS tissue, distributed in spinal roots, ganglia, and peripheral nerves. The lesions were characterized by perivenous myelin breakdown and accumulations of macrophages. The response in monkeys, also restricted to PNS, was mainly an axonal degeneration. Myelin breakdown was interpreted as secondary to the axonal damage. Axonal reactions were observed in root ganglion and anterior horn cells, being accompanied by ascending degeneration in the posterior columns of the spinal cord. Demyelinating antiserum was present in all rabbits, but absent in all monkeys. Myelination inhibiting factor was also positive in all rabbits but not in monkeys. From these findings, it can be concluded that the antigenicity of the GC is not a generalized response in all animals. The lesions produced by GC in monkeys seem to be degenerative rather than allergic.