Figure 9.

Histopathological semiquantitative analysis of spinal cord tissue. Standard histopathology was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue samples of animals that had been killed on day 22 after EAE induction (14 d after CD8⁺ T-cell cotransfer). Shown are the pooled data of two independent experiments (n = 10/experiment). A, CNS-infiltrating CD3 cells are similarly distributed in both groups (representative slide of evaluation). Quantification of CD3 cells shows no significant differences between the OT-1 transferred and the pcCD8⁺ T-cell-transferred groups. Each data spot represents the mean cell count per 0.01 mm² of individual mice. B, Mononuclear phagocytic inflammatory cells (MAC-3 positive) are comparable in distribution and number in mice that were transferred with OT-1 T cells or polyclonal CD8⁺ T cells. Each data spot represents the mean cell count per 0.01 μm² of individual mice. C, Demyelination was similar in both groups, as analyzed by semiquantitative evaluation of MBP loss in white matter tracts (percentage of demyelinated area of all white matter area). Each data point represents the mean of an individual mouse. D, Axonal loss in EAE lesions was evenly distributed between the two groups, as identified by a similar loss of neurofilament-positive neurons/axons in demyelinated lesions. Each data point represents the mean of an individual mouse. Mann–Whitney-U test was performed for all statistical analyses.