Delayed, relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in mice. Role of adjuvants and pertussis vaccine.

The effect was studied of varying the dosage of mycobacteria and pertussis vaccine in the immunization emulsion on the development of delayed, relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (DR-EAE) in SJL/J mice. DR-EAE could be induced with dosages of mycobacteria from 0.2 mg to 1.0 mg per mouse. Animals given pertussis vaccine from different batches and different sources all developed DR-EAE with similar percentages of animals sick, animals relapsing, and delay to onset. Mice immunized without pertussis vaccine also developed DR-EAE but had fewer relapses and a longer delay to onset. The role of antigens and adjuvants in relapsing EAE and analogies with multiple sclerosis are discussed.