Objective    To investigate the therapeutic effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).     Methods    The guinea pig spinal cord homogenate (GPSCH) and complete Freund’s adjuvant were used as the antigen to induce the acute EAE model in Wistar rats which were verified according to clinical scoring. Totally 36 rats were randomly and equally divided into 3 groups

that is

normal control

EAE group and MMF treatment group. In 10 d after immunization

normal saline or MMF (30 mg·kg

-1

·d

-1

) were given intragastrically for 7 d to the corresponding groups. The rats were sacrificed on the 16th day and 30th day after immunization for

pathological changes of the brain and spinal cord. Clinical manifestation was scored during the experiment.     Results    Compared with the EAE model group

MMF-treated rats had lower clinical scores and shorter disease process. Besides

the inflammatory infiltration

demyelination and axonal damage in the central nervous system were significantly improved in MMF treatment group.      Conclusion    MMF is an effective drug in treating EAE

and can relieve the clinical signs and ameliorate pathological lesions in the central nervous system of acute EAE rats.