The significance of in-situ Ia antigen expression in the pathogenesis of autoimmune central nervous system disease.

Major histocompatibility class II antigen (Ia) expression is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune central nervous system (CNS) disease. It has been suggested that Ia expression within the CNS might be sufficient to induce experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). The expression of Ia antigen in the CNS was studied during the natural course of both acute and chronic relapsing EAE.

Influence of castration on incorporation of exogenous peroxidase into "synaptic" vesicles of the median eminence. II. The perivascular part of the palisade zone in male rats.

In the median eminence of male rats, nerve profiles in the immediate vicinity of portal capillaries have been divided into 4 categories on the basis of their vesicular content: profiles a with agranular "synaptic" vesicles of about 50 nm, b with similar agranular vesicles and also with granular vesicles of mainly 60-140 nm, c with granular vesicles alone and d without vesicles. Twenty-four hours after castration, the percentage of profiles of category a was significantly increased when compared with sham-operated animals, whereas the percentage of profiles of category b was significantly decreased. After intravenous injection of exogenous peroxidase, especially the nerve profiles located in direct contact with the outer basement membrane of the portal capillaries contained peroxidase positive "synaptic" vesicles.