Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune disease
characterized by neuronal demyelination of the Central Nervous System (CNS). It
affects more than 2 million people worldwide. Animal models are of great importance
in elucidating immune-pathological mechanisms of MS. The three most commonly
studied categories of MS animal models are (1) the Experimental Autoimmune
Encephalomyelitis (EAE); (2) chronic demyelinating disease models through virus
inoculation known as Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus (TMEV) infection and
(3) toxin-induced models of demyelination, comprising the focal toxin-induced
demyelination by lysolecithin (lysophosphatidylcholine), ethidium bromide, antigalactocerebroside
(GaIC) antibody) and systemic toxin-induced demyelination by
cuprizone. EAE is a widely accepted animal model that reflects the pathological
mechanisms of MS, making it highly useful to analyze new therapeutic approaches.
However, TMEV infection and toxin-induced models are most suitable for studying the
role of de and remyelination processes and axonal injury or repair in MS. Furthermore,
Zebrafish models have also emerged in recent years as novel animal models for MS
because of their swift development and controllable genetic manipulations. In a
nutshell, despite their limitations, animal models remain the most useful research tools
to answer specific research questions related to pathological mechanisms and to
validate potential experimental therapies for MS.
Keywords: Animal models, Demyelination, Experimental autoimmune
encephalomyelitis, Remyelination, Theiler`s Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus,
Zebrafish.