Inhibition of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in rats severely depleted of T cells.

Lewis rats depleted of thymus-derived cells (B rats) failed to develop either experimental allergic encephalomyelitis or antibody against myelin basic protein. Lewis B rats reconstituted with 690 x 10(6) thymocytes developed experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and levels of antibody against myelin basic protein comparable to those of controls. The Lewis B rat model should be useful in the analysis of the role of thymus-derived cell populations and antibody in the induction of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.