Passive transfer experiments in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
E. H. Denys, J. E. Jackson, M. J. Aguilar, A. J. Wilson and F. H. Norris
To test the hypothesis that a serum factor might play a role in the
pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, whole plasma obtained by
plasmapheresis from patients with the disease was injected daily
intraperitoneally into mice for periods of up to three months. Similar
experiments were carried out with an isolated immunoglobulin fraction.
Control experiments were carried out simultaneously. The animals were
tested electrophysiologically, and histologic examinations of the brain,
spinal cord, and peripheral nerves were performed. No ill effects were
noted in the animals, and no neurophysiologic or microscopic abnormalities
were detected.
