Experimental allergic neuritis in Lewis rats: Altered pattern of disease induced by pertussis vaccine

Experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) was induced in Lewis rats by a single injection of sciatic nerve-complete Freund's adjuvant either with or without a simultaneous injection of pertussis vaccine as a supplemental immunopotentiating agent. Fibrin deposition, documented by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, was found to be an important immunohistopathologic concomitant of this autoimmune peripheral nervous system disorder irrespective of whether pertussis vaccine was included in the sensitization regimen. In contrast to the well-known capacity of pertussis vaccine to accelerate and intensify other analogous experimental autoallergies, Lewis rats receiving pertussis vaccine in addition to peripheral nerve sensitization clearly developed a less intense form and altered pattern of EAN as manifested by: (a) decreased thoracic cage muscular weakness and associated respiratory impairment and (b) decreased sciatic nerve inflammation. Diminished inflammation of sciatic nerves was accompanied by increased fibrin deposition and focal cellular infiltration within the brain. Pertussis vaccine would appear to exert an immunosuppressive effect on EAN while simultaneously retaining its known capacity to augment immunologic injury of the central nervous system.