ET-1 RIA and Immunocytochemistry on EAE-induced lewis rat

Endothelin-1, which is a peptide originally isolated from cultured porcine aortic cell, has been found to play a crucial role in potentiating the vasoconstriction mitogenesis, and chemotaxis. In the present study, we examined the level of endothelin-1 in the brain, spinal cord and blood from rat with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis(EAE). At the peak stage of EAE(grade 3), endothelin-1 level in the spinal cord of rat with EAE increased two folds as compared with that of sham-treated rats, and subsequently decreased to the level of control at the recovery stage. In the endothelin-1 immunocytochemistry, endothelin-1 immunopositive cells and ED-1, macrophage marker immunopositive cells observed in the spinal cord of peak stage(grade 3). These Findings suggest that endothelin-1 play the important role in progression of EAE.