SCH-induced EAE is induced in DA rats with a homogenate of spinal cord from naive animals emulsified in Incomplete Freunds Adjuvant (IFA). SCH-induced EAE is a severe, relapsing and demyelinating encephalomyelitis. Animals with EAE develop ascending flaccid paralysis that initially affects the tail (score 1-2), later involves hind limbs (score 3-6), forelimbs (score 7) and ultimately result in quadriplegia and death (score 8). The disease is CD4+ T cell mediated and dependent on both Th1 and Th17 cells.

In this model, disease is accompanied by demyelination of the CNS as can be assessed by histology at termination. In additon, IL-17 and IFN-g responses from LNs cells can be assayed ex vivo either as estimation on drug efficacy in vitro or prediction of efficacy for selection of lead compounds before in vivo experiments. The CD4+ T cell dependency of this model allows for adoptive T cell transfer following ex vivo stimulation of autoreactive T cells.