A study of the capacity of myelinated and unmyelinated nerves to induce experimental allergic neuritis

Summary The capacity of myelin-free Schwann cells to induce EAN was investigated. Human foetal peripheral nerve and human adult abdominal vagus nerve, both containing little or no myelin, failed to induce EAN when injected intradermally (together with Freund's adjuvant) into rabbits. In contrast, human adult sciatic nerve, which is heavily myelinated, induced characteristic signs and histopathology of EAN. Thus in the myelin-free antigens Schwann cell plasma membrane, from which myelin is apparently derived, failed to induce EAN. Reasons for this paradox are discussed.