ABSTRACT
AIM: To elucidate the molecular mechanism of apoptosis in inflammatory cells occurring in the central nervous system during experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), the changes of pathology and the expression of apoptosis-related molecules Bcl-2 and Bax in the spinal cord of guinea pigs in EAE model were observed. METHODS: EAE model was induced in guinea pig. The cervical and lumbosacral enlargement of spinal cord was obmined during the 14 th and 28 th days after modeling. The H & E staining and ABC immunohistochemistry technique were used. RESULTS: HE staining: The lesion in the model was located in the inflammation of small veins, which were surrounded by inflammatory cells. It was specially noticed that inflammatory cells also infiltrated large veins. The lesions in the 28th day were more severe than that in the 14th day. ABC immunohistochemistry staining: The positive expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was obviously increased in the spinal cord of guinea pig with EAE. The number of Bcl-2 positive cells in the 28th day of model group was more than that of the 14th day. The number of Bax positive cells in the 28th day and 14th day of model group did not show obvious difference at un-lesion areas. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Bcl-2 and Bax may play an important role in EAE.