Abstract
Twenty-two rabbits received Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor (AChR) subcutaneously. Six rabbits were treated with 0.5 ml/kg/day of anti-rabbit thymocyte serum (ARTS), and four were treated with 5.0 mg/kg/day of anti-rabbit thymocyte gammaglobulin (ARTG) subcutaneously beginning concomitantly 1, 2 and 3 weeks after the initial AChR immunization. All 12 control animals died of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) within 52 days. None of the 10 treated rabbits developed clinical EAMG. ARTS- and ARTG-treated animals had significantly lower anti-AChR antibody titers than control animals at 3 weeks (pre-AChR booster, p& < 0.01). At 6 weeks (post-AChR booster), only ARTS-treated animals had significantly lower titers than controls (p& < 0.01). ARTS-treated animals developed sterile abscesses at injection sites, which were minimal in the ARTG-treated group. ARTS and ARTG prevent EAMG.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 168-174 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Pathobiology |
Volume | 63 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1995 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Acetylcholine receptor
- Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies
- Anti-rabbit thymocyte gammaglobulin
- Anti-rabbit thymocyte serum
- Experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis
- Myasthenia gravis
- Rabbits