Modifications in the establishment of allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rats; an imporved assay for immunosuppressant drugs.

EAE induced in Lewis rats by guinea-pig spinal cord and such lipid adjuvants as hexadecane or squalene (without the mycobacterial component) is more sensitive to lower doses of cyclophosphamide and some select immunosuppressive agents than the conventional EAE induced using Freund's complete adjuvant. In addition, these animals do not suffer from adjuvant arthritis which may be induced if the bacterial component is present. These modifications in the conventional assay have enhanced its ability to detect new, weaker and/or lower doses of known immunosuppressants.