Production of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis with the aid of pertussigen in mouse strains considered genetically resistant.

Strains of mice (BALB/c An Bradley/Wehi, C57B1/10J, CBA/ca H Wehi, DBA/2 Wf, A/J Wehi), thought to be genetically resistant to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) and known to be resistant to becoming hypersensitive to histamine after administration of pertussis vaccine were tested for their ability to develop EAE when purified pertussigen was included in the immunization. It was found that C57B1/10J, CBA/ca H Wehi, BALB/c An Bradley/Wehi and DBA/2 Wf developed typical signs and histologic evidence of EAE. The A/J Wehi and the B10D2/n Sn (not previously tested) strains developed only mild signs of EAE, while the known susceptible (SJL/J X BALB/c An Bradley/Wehi) F1 hybrids developed severe EAE. Histologic evidence of EAE was lacking in A/J Wehi mice and was minimal in B10D2/n Sn mice. These results suggest that neither the H-2 complex nor the gene controlling susceptibility to sensitization to histamine by administration of pertussigen are wholly responsible for susceptibility to EAE.