Histological study of the cerebral cortex and spinal cord ina model of experimentally induced autoimmuneencephalomyelitis in adult albino rabbits

IntroductionAxonal damage is responsible for the increasing disability seen in patients afflictedwith multiple sclerosis (MS). An animal model of autoimmune encephalomyelitis mayhelp to develop better therapeutic and neuroprotective strategies.Aim of the workThe aim of the study was to investigate the histological patterns of axonal injury andthe mechanism of demyelination in autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the cerebralcortex and spinal cord of adult albino rabbits.Materials and methodsTwenty male adult albino rabbits were divided into two groups: the control group –group I (10 animals) – and the experimental group – group II (10 animals).Autoimmune encephalomyelitis was induced by the injection of 0.3 ml/kg of 0.01%ethidium bromide solution. The animals were sacrificed and their cerebral cortex andspinal cord were processed for light microscopic examination, whereas electronmicroscopy was used to study the lumbar segment of spinal cord.ResultsLight microscopic examination of the cerebral cortex and spinal cord showed somecellular infiltration, together with degeneration and necrosis of nerve cells. Electronmicroscopic examination of the white matter of the spinal cord showed areas ofdestruction of nerve fibers, together with defective myelination.ConclusionThe extent of motor neuron inflammation and demyelination, axonal damage, andwhite matter pathology are reflective of the severity of experimental MS. Our resultsdelineate the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model as a valuabletool for MS research.