An investigation of experimental myasthenia gravis

Jones, S. F.; Brennan, Jessica; McLeod, J. G.

doi:10.1136/jnnp.34.4.399

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry

1971

DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.34.4.399

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An investigation of experimental myasthenia gravis

S. F. Jones

Jessica Brennan

J. G. McLeod

Abstract: SUMMARY Guinea-pigs were immunized with antigen prepared from calf thymus and muscle, and from guinea-pig thymus, and rats were immunized with antigen prepared from rat thymus and rat muscle. There was an increased incidence of delayed hypersensitivity and circulating thymus antibodies in the immunized guinea-pigs and an increased incidence of thymitis in the immunized guinea-pigs and rats. However, when compared with control animals, there was no electrophysiological evidence of impairment of neuromuscular tr… Show more

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Cited by 9 publications

References 11 publications

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Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis in Rats

Sanders¹

1977

Arch Neurol

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In rats immunized with purified acetylcholine receptor protein (AChRP) from Torpedo electroplax, a defect of neuromuscular transmission physiologically identical to that seen in myasthenia gravis developed. The most sensitive index of the neuromuscular blockage was miniature end-plate potential (MEPP) amplitude. As early as 24 hours after inoculation with AChRP, the thymus showed reactive changes that are probably nonspecific. Removal of the thymus before or within three days after immunization delayed, but did not prevent, development of reduced MEPP amplitude. Prednisolone given within 35 days after immunization produced reversal of MEPP reduction within 24 hours, but had no such immediate effect when given 15 days later. It is probable that prednisolone acted by reducing the immunologic responsiveness of the animals during the developing phase of the defect of neuromuscular transmission.

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Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis in Rats

Sanders¹

1977

Arch Neurol

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Myasthenia gravis: A personal view of pathogenesis and mechanism, part 1

Simpson

1978

Muscle and Nerve

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A review of our current knowledge of the etiology and pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis is presented, with particular emphasis on the immunological aspects of the disease. Part 1, published in this issue, deals with the clinical and genetic features of myasthenia gravis which led to the autoimmune theory of the etiology of this disease. Various theories in this field are reviewed, and recent advances in our knowledge of the acetylcholine receptor protein, and its immunology, are examined. Part 2, which will appear in the March/April issue, provides a review of the dysfunction of physiology, pharmacology, and structure of the neuromuscular junction in myasthenia gravis, and the part played by the autoimmune process.

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Critical reexamination of the thymus immunization model of myasthenia gravis

et al. 1980

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Previous studies have described an experimental model of myasthenia gravis (MG) produced by immunizing animals with thymus extracts. In view of the hypothesis that the autoimmune process in MG may be initiated within the thymus itself, we have reexamined this model using presently available methods to evaluate its resemblance to MG. We immunized Lewis rats with extracts of rat thymus in Freund's adjuvant, as originally described by G. Goldstein. Five procedures were used to test for myasthenic characteristics: (1) repetitive nerve stimulation; (2) recording of miniature endplate potentials; (3) assays of anti-ACh receptor antibodies in serum; (4) determination of ACh receptors at neuromuscular junctions by [125I] alpha-bungarotoxin binding; and (5) evaluation of the histology of the thymus gland. Our results showed that the thymus-immunized animals did not demonstrate abnormalities in any of these parameters. We conclude that immunization of rats with thymus extracts, as described, failed to produce a myasthenia-like condition.

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An investigation of experimental myasthenia gravis

Cited by 9 publications

References 11 publications

Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis in Rats

Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis in Rats

Myasthenia gravis: A personal view of pathogenesis and mechanism, part 1

Critical reexamination of the thymus immunization model of myasthenia gravis

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