Myelination inhibiting and neuroelectric blocking factors in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

Sensitization of Lewis rats with whole central nervous system tissue or with purified myelin induced both experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) and a serum factor which inhibited myelin formation in vitro. Sensitization with the encephalitogenic factor, myelin basic protein, induced EAE, but not the myelination inhibition factor. Sensitization with cerebroside induced neither EAE nor myelination inhibition factor. The serums from control animals without EAE as well as from animals sensitized with all of the above antigens blocked evoked electrical responses in vitro.