Variation in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis scores in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis

Table 1 Commonly used classical experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis score

Score	EAE signs	Observation
0	No signs of EAE	Hind legs are extended; tail extends up and moves; tail wraps around cylindrical object; normal gait
0.5	Partially limp tail	Hind legs are extended; tip of tail droops and/or does not wrap around cylindrical object; normal gait
1	Paralyzed tail	Hind legs are extended; tail droops and does not wrap around cylindrical object; normal gait
2	Loss in coordinated movement; hind limb paralysis	Hind legs contract when held at the base of tail; mouse walks with uncoordinated movement; hind limbs reflex when toes are pinched; limp tail
2.5	One hind limb paralysis	Mouse drags one hind limb; one hind limb does not respond to pinch; limp tail
3	Both hind limbs paralysis	Mouse drags both hind limbs; both hind limbs do not respond to toe pinch; limp tail
3.5	Hind limb paralysis; weakness in forelimbs	Mouse drags hind limbs but has difficulty using forelimbs to pull body; forelimbs respond to toe pinch; limp tail
4	Forelimbs paralysis	Mouse cannot move; forelimbs do not respond to toe pinch; limp tail
5	Moribund	No movement; cold to the touch; altered breathing

Note there are no scores denoted 1.5 and 4.5. The data available from reference 10. EAE: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Table 2 Differences in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis scores among researchers

	Swanborg[18]	Matsumoto et al[19]	Yamamura et al[20]	Sobel et al[21]	Kalyvas et al[22]	Mendel et al[23]	Pollak et al[24]	Takeuchi et al[25]
Strain	Lewis rat	Lewis rat	C57BL/6J mice	SJL/J mice	C57BL/6J mice	C57BL/6J mice	SLJ/J mice	C57BL/6J mice
Antigen	MBP	MBP	MOG35-55	PLP131-151	MOG35-55	MOG	PLP131-151	MOG35-55
0	ND	ND	No clinical signs	No disease	Normal	No clinical signs	No neurological signs	No detectable signs of paralysis
1	Loss of tail tonicity	Flaccid tail	Loss of tail tonicity	Decreased tail tone or slightly clumsy gait	Flaccid tail	Loss of tail tonicity	Tail weakness	Completely limp tail
2	Definite hind quarter weakness	Mild paraparesis	Impaired righting reflex	Tail atony and/or moderately clumsy gait and/or poor righting ability	Mild hindlimb paralysis	Flaccid tail	Tail paralysis	Loss of the righting reflex
3	Hind leg paralysis	Severe paraparesis	Partial hindlimb paralysis	Limb weakness	Severe hindlimb weakness	Hind leg paralysis	Loss of righting reflex	Partial hind limb paralysis
4	ND	Moribund condition	Total hindlimb paralysis	Limb paralysis	Hindlimb paralysis	Hind leg paralysis with hind body paresis	Hind limb paresis/paralysis	Complete hind limb paralysis
5	ND	ND	ND	Moribund	Hindlimb paralysis and forelimb weakness or moribund	Hind and fore leg paralysis	Quadriplegia (immobility)	Total paralysis of allfour limbs
6	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND	Death	Death	Death

ND: Not defined.

Table 3 Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis scores using the 0.5 point scale

	Tsunoda et al[26]	Storch et al[27]	Greter et al[28]	Kihara et al[29]
Strain	SJL/J mice	BN and DA rat	C57/BL mice	C57/BL mice
Antigen	PLP	MOG1-125	MOG35-55	MOG35-55
0	No clinical disease	ND	No detectable signs of EAE	No signs
0.5	Loss of tonicity of the distal half of the tail	Partial loss of tail tone	Distal limp tail	Mild loss of tail tone
1	Complete loss of tail tonicity	Complete tail atony	Complete limp tail	Complete loss of tail tone
1.5	ND	ND	Limp tail and distal limb weakness	Mildly impaired righting reflex
2	Mild hind leg paresis	Hind limb weakness	Unilateral partial limb paralysis	Abnormal gait and/or impaired righting reflex
2.5	ND	ND	Bilateral partial hind limb paralysis	Hind limb paresis
3	Moderate hind leg paralysis	Hind limb paralysis	Complete bilateral hind limb paralysis	Hind limbs paralysis
3.5	ND	ND	Complete bilateral hind limb paralysis and unilateral forelimb paralysis	Hind limb paralysis with hind body paresis
4	Complete paraplegia	Tetraplegy, moribund state	Total paralysis of fore and hind limbs	Hind and fore limb paralysis
4.5	ND	ND	ND	Moribund
5	quadriplegia, moribund state or death	Death	Death	Death
5.5	ND	ND	ND	ND
6	ND	ND	ND	ND

ND: Not defined.