Experimental allergic optic neuritis (EAON) in the rabbit. A new model to study primary demyelinating diseases.

In New Zealand albino rabbits the axons of the nerve fibre layer are myelinated over a long distance within the retina. Primary demyelination of these fibres was induced by sensitization of the animals to bovine cerebral white matter or myelin basic protein in complete Freund's adjuvant and challenge thereafter by intravitreous injection of basic protein (BP) or purified tuberculin (PPD). Production of segmental demyelination as a result of sensitization to brain-specific antigen (BP) and indifferent (PPD) antigen, shows that morphologically the same type of lesions can be induced by any antigen which will elicit cell-mediated immune reaction.