Small fibre integrity and axonal pathology in the rat model of experimental autoimmune neuritis.

Experimental autoimmune neuritis is a common animal model for acute human immune-mediated polyneuropathies. Although already established in 1955, a number of pathophysiological mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we extensively characterize experimental autoimmune neuritis progression in Lewis rats, including new insights into the integrity of small nerve fibres, neuropathic pain and macrophage activation.

Museum DNA reveals a new, potentially extinct species of rinkhals (Serpentes: Elapidae: Hemachatus) from the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe.

Genetic information plays a pivotal role in species recognition and delimitation, but rare or extinct animals can be difficult to obtain genetic samples from. While natural history wet collections have proven invaluable in the description of novel species, the use of these historical samples in genetic studies has been greatly impeded by DNA degradation, especially because of formalin-fixation prior to preservation. Here, we use recently developed museum genomics approaches to determine the status of an isolated population of the elapid snake genus Hemachatus from Zimbabwe.

Dose-dependent immunomodulatory effects of bortezomib in experimental autoimmune neuritis.

Proteasome inhibition with bortezomib has been reported to exert an immunomodulatory action in chronic autoimmune neuropathies. However, bortezomib used for the treatment of multiple myeloma induces a painful toxic polyneuropathy at a higher concentration. Therefore, we addressed this controversial effect and evaluated the neurotoxic and immunomodulatory mode of action of bortezomib in experimental autoimmune neuritis.