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Evoked potential (EP) alterations in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE): early delays and latency reductions without plaques

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Abstract

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in its chronic relapsing (CR-EAE), chronic progressive (CP-EAE) and acute (A-EAE) forms was obtained in 24 juvenile strain 13 guinea pigs.

Visual, brainstem acoustic and somatosensory evoked potentials (EPs) were recorded in these animals prior to the sensitizing injection and during the course of the disease.

Delays in the EPs appeared 15 days post-sensitization (dps), preceding or simultaneously with clinical alterations: electron microscopy revealed myelin stripping and vacuolation in the animals sacrificed 25 dps. Decreases in EP latency were recorded 32 dps; when electron microscopy revealed myelin layers indicating remyelination, whereas light microscopy showed only inflammatory changes. When confluent plaques were revealed by light microscopy 120 dps, the EP wave shapes were distorted or absent. The discussion reviews the literature on early myelin and conduction changes during central demyelination.

Sommario

Ventiquattro cavie di ceppo 13 sono state sensibilizzate con omogenato di midollo spinale autologo in adiuvante di Freund, al fine di indurre un'Encefalite Allergica Sperimentale (EAE) nelle forme Cronica Recidivante (CR-EAE), Cronica Progressiva (CP-EAE) ed Acuta (A-EAE). Scopo dello studio era di osservare le modificazioni dei Potenziali Evocati stimolo correlati durante la progressione della malattia demielinizzante. Pertanto, prima dell'iniezione sensibilizzante e durante il decorso della malattia, sono stati registrati in tutti gli animali i potenziali evocati Visivi, Acustici troncoencefalici e Somatosensoriali.

Un aumento di latenza dei potenziali evocati era repertabile dopo 15 giorni dall'iniezione sensibilizzante, concomitante o precedente la comparsa di sintomi clinici, quando non era ancora possibile evidenziare placche di demielinizzazione nei reperti anatomopatologici. Nel presente lavoro si discute la patofisiologia delle alterazioni dei potenziali evocati nell'EAE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Clinica Neurologica e Scienze del Comportamento, Università degli Studi “G. D'Annunzio”, Chieti, Italy

    Gambi D., Fulgente T., Melchionda D. & Onofrj M.

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  1. Gambi D.
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  2. Fulgente T.
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  3. Melchionda D.
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  4. Onofrj M.
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Gambi, D., Fulgente, T., Melchionda, D. et al. Evoked potential (EP) alterations in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE): early delays and latency reductions without plaques. Ital J Neuro Sci 17, 23–33 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01995706

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