Macrophages and nitric oxide as the possible cellular and molecular basis for strain and gender differences in susceptibility to autoimmune central nervous system inflammation.

PVG rats are resistant to actively induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and this appears to be directly related to high and sustained systemic levels of reactive nitrogen intermediates(RNI) following sensitization for EAE when compared to the highly susceptible Lewis rat. An apparent cellular basis for the different EAE susceptibility between the two rat strains is described. Spleens of PVG rats have increased monocyte/macrophage numbers(NO producing cells) and lower erythrocyte (NO scavengers) to nucleated spleen cell ratios compared with Lewis rats.