THE NEUROTROPHIC ANALOG OF ACTH(4-9), ORG 2766, PROTECTS AGAINST EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGIC NEURITIS

Demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis or the Guillain - Barre syndrome originate from an autoimmune response resulting in the degradation of myelin and impaired neuronal function. Prophylactic administration of the neurotrophic peptide, H-Met(02)-Glu-His-Phe-D-Lys-Phe-OH [an ACTH(4 - 9) analogue], to rats with experimental allergic neuritis, a model for the Guillain - Barre syndrome, markedly suppresses the clinical symptoms, protects against loss of motor coordination and prevents the degeneration of myelinated axons in die affected peripheral nerve. Therefore, this peptide may provide a new approach to the therapy of peripheral demyelinating polyneuropathies.