Absence of Autoantibodies Against Neurofilament Proteins in the Sera of Scrapie Infected Mice

Abstract

Autoantibodies against neurofilament proteins were not detected in any of the sera from the following scrapie infected mice : 19 mice infected with scrapie agent 139A in pre-clinical stage, 32 histologically confirmed scrapie mice and other 12 clinical scrapie mice infected with various strains. The test sera were assayed against acetone-fixed central neuron cultures from fetal mice by indirect immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques. The negative result suggests that autoantibodies against neurofilament proteins do not play a role in the pathogenesis of scrapie. scrapie ; autoantibodies against neurofialment proteins. © 1985, Tohoku University Medical Press. All rights reserved