Vesicular disruption of myelin in autoimmune demyelination.

A pattern of autoimmune demyelination in EAE and EAN has been described which was encountered consistently and was sometimes more common than the better known phenomenon of active stripping of myelin by macrophages. This pattern involved the rapid dissolution of myelin into a vesicular network which was later degraded by macrophages. It occurred early in the disease, was not accentuated perivascularly, and was usually associated with the presence of macrophases. The underlying mechanisms are not known but several alternatives have been discussed, viz., activity of locally released antibody, cytotoxic factors, or hydrolytic enzymes.