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It has previously been proposed that the autoimmune disease of the inbred NZB mouse is due to an age-related failure of a normal autoimmune control mechanism. Ovum fusion-derived tetraparental NZB : CFW chimaeras have been used to investigate this hypothesis since it was anticipated that the autoimmune control process present in the CEW would inhibit the development of the classic progressive autoimmune NZB diseases This view is supported since although certain chiniaeras developed positive direct Coombs' test (DCT) reactions, evidence suggests that the NZB disease has been inhibited and furthermore. It appears that these reactions reflect graft-versus-host (g-v-h) activity in the chimaeras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has previously been proposed that the autoimmune disease of the inbred NZB mouse is due to an age-related failure of a normal autoimmune control mechanism. Ovum fusion-derived tetraparental NZB : CFW chimaeras have been used to investigate this hypothesis since it was anticipated that the autoimmune control process present in the CEW would inhibit the development of the classic progressive autoimmune NZB diseases This view is supported since although certain chiniaeras developed positive direct Coombs' test (DCT) reactions, evidence suggests that the NZB disease has been inhibited and furthermore it appears that these reactions reflect graft-versus-host (g-v-h) activity in the chimaeras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The onset of a positive Coombs test was significantly delayed in NZB mice infected with Plasmodium berghei at the age of 1 month. At the age of 12 months, twelve out of fourteen malaria-infected NZB mice had become Coombs positive but their reticulocyte counts and mean spleen weight were significantly lower than those of control NZB mice of the same age. Malaria infection of young NZB mice was associated with a significant increase in mean 24-hr urine protein excretion which fell gradually over the next 6 months. A secondary rise in urine protein excretion then occurred and at 12 months several malaria-infected NZB mice had severe renal disease. No increased incidence of malignant disease was observed in NZB mice infected with malaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female (NZB × NZW) F1 hybrid (B/W) mice were infected with Plasmodium berghei at the age of 1 month. In contrast to the high mortality from renal disease observed in control female mice of this strain, all of the malaria-infected female mice were alive at 12 months of age and none had any clinical features of severe renal diseases This finding gives some support to the hypothesis that a background of repeated parasitic infection may modify the development of autoimmune disease in man. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paralysis has been produced in large and small rats by injections of small volumes of spinal cord tissue in Freund's adjuvant into the inguinal lymph nodes. This route appears to be more reliable, more economical and less traumatic than intradermal injections into the foot-pad or back. It may be of value in the production of other syndromes which involve an immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]