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Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1980 Jul;43(7):568–576. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.43.7.568

Experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis.

J Lindstrom
PMCID: PMC490624  PMID: 6249892

Abstract

Injection of animals with purified acetylcholine receptor in complete Freund's adjuvant causes development of antibodies which crossreact with receptors in muscle. The crossreacting antibodies impair neuromuscular transmission. Animals with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) are excellent models for studying the complex mechanisms by which the autoimmune response to receptor in myasthenia gravis causes muscle weakness. This review first briefly describes the discovery of EAMG. Then, to provide the necessary perspective, receptor structure and function and properties of anti-receptor antibodies are discussed, followed by a brief review of the pathological mechanisms in EAMG.

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Selected References

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