Preliminary study on the suppression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat with spirogermanium.

Spirogermanium (SG) is an azaspirane compound that incorporates the element germanium into a heterocyclic ring structure. It is currently being tested in phase II clinical trials as an anti-neoplastic agent and, in experimental animals, has suppressed adjuvant arthritis. In this study, SG suppressed experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat. Suppression was a dose-dependent phenomenon and doses of 28 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg given intraperitoneally five through 14 days postinoculation gave significant protection. Perivascular inflammation in the central nervous system was also suppressed in animals receiving effective doses. Although these doses were well tolerated, cytoplasmic lamellar-bodies were found in the central nervous system of all SG-treated animals. Also, animals treated with SG developed diarrhea and weight loss, although histologic study of the gastrointestinal tract revealed no lesions.