Passive Transfer Experiments in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• Published in: Archives of neurology (Chicago) Vol. 41; no. 2; pp. 161 - 163
• Main Authors: Denys, Eric H, Jackson, James E, Aguilar, Mary Jane, Wilson, Andrew J, Norris, Forbes H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL American Medical Association 01.02.1984
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - immunology; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - pathology; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Humans; Immunization, Passive; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Immunoglobulins - immunology; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Middle Aged; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Nervous system as a whole; Neurology; Plasmapheresis; Plasma; Vertebrata; Experimental disease; Nervous system diseases; Intraperitoneal administration; Mammalia; Mouse; Rodentia; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Passive transfer; Degenerative disease
• ISSN: 0003-9942; 1538-3687
• DOI: 10.1001/archneur.1984.04050140059024

• To test the hypothesis that a serum factor might play a role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, whole plasma obtained by plasmapheresis from patients with the disease was injected daily intraperitoneally into mice for periods of up to three months. Similar experiments were carried out with an isolated immunoglobulin fraction. Control experiments were carried out simultaneously. The animals were tested electrophysiologically, and histologic examinations of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves were performed. No ill effects were noted in the animals, and no neurophysiologic or microscopic abnormalities were detected.