Interaction between gonadal steroids and neuroimmune system in acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Wistar rats

DANIELA R. MACCIO; YANINA DITAMO; ALICIA L. DEGANO; GERMAN A. ROTH

Taylor and Francis

Año: 2004 vol. 37 p. 17 - 17

p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal">Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an inflammatory disease of the CNS mediated by autoreactive T lymphocytes directed against myelin antigens. Since neuroendocrine-immune dysfunction appears to contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, the present work was designed to study the effect of changes in the endocrine system on the development of acute EAE and the immune response against myelin basic protein (MBP). Intact and sham males and intact female Wistar rats showed the most severe clinical symptoms (acute period) 12-14 days post-inoculation (dpi). Then, they began gradually to recover, regaining the total ability to walk by 15-17 dpi. Male Wistar rats with altered levels of gonadal hormones by surgical castration showed an onset of the symptoms retarded 2-3 days with respect to the other EAE groups, show