Experimental conduction block induced by serum from a patient with anti-GM1 antibodies

Increased titers of antibodies to GM1 ganglioside in humans are associated with lower motor neuron disease and predominantly motor neuropathy with or without conduction block. To investigate the possible mechanism of these antibodies, we injected the serum of a patient with anti-GM1 antibodies who h...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAnnals of neurology Vol. 31; no. 4; p. 385
Main Authors Santoro, M, Uncini, A, Corbo, M, Staugaitis, S M, Thomas, F P, Hays, A P, Latov, N
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.04.1992
Subjects
Animals
Antibodies - analysis
Blood Physiological Phenomena
Electrophysiology
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
G(M1) Ganglioside - immunology
Humans
Male
Microscopy, Electron
Motor Neurons - physiology
Neural Conduction
Neuromuscular Diseases - blood
Neuromuscular Diseases - physiopathology
Rats
Rats, Inbred Strains
Sciatic Nerve - pathology
Sciatic Nerve - physiopathology
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Summary:Increased titers of antibodies to GM1 ganglioside in humans are associated with lower motor neuron disease and predominantly motor neuropathy with or without conduction block. To investigate the possible mechanism of these antibodies, we injected the serum of a patient with anti-GM1 antibodies who had motor neuron disease and multifocal motor conduction block, into rat sciatic nerve. When injected with fresh human complement, the serum-induced conduction block with temporal dispersion and deposits of immunoglobulin were detected at the nodes of Ranvier. Electron microscopic studies revealed demyelination in 6.5% of the fibers. After preabsorption with GM1, the serum had no effect, suggesting that the anti-GM1 antibodies were responsible for the conduction abnormalities.
ISSN:0364-5134
1531-8249
DOI:10.1002/ana.410310407