[Brain lesions in rabbits given an intravenous injection of verotoxin 2 and protection by anti-VT2 antibody].

Magnetic resonance imaging was obtained to determine the effects of VT2 toxemia on the rabbit's CNS. The first lesion was noted at 24 h in the hypothalamic area of all experimental animals. The rabbits accompanied with the brain stem lesion were dead within 6 days. We examined the integrity of cerebrospinal fluid-brain barrier (CBB) using a tracer. The tracer was detected throughout the cytoplasm of the ependymal cell layer covering the third ventricle after intrathecal injection of the tracer, which means a deterioration of CBB. Furthermore, we examined whether anti-VT2 antibody injected intrathecally protects rabbits from brain damage. All the rabbits survived when they were given an intrathecal injection of rabbit anti-VT2 antibody 2h before the intravenous injection of VT2.