In this study, we report initial results concerning the effects of elevated dietary trace metals upon delayed relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in SJL mice. Animals were assigned to a control diet as well as to diets with increased content of NiS0(4) and ZnS0(4) prior to immunization for EAE. During a six month follow-up period, trends appeared which indicated that the incidence of EAE might be lower in the nickel-fed animals than in the comparison groups. EAE onset also seemed to occur later in the nickel group. Histopathologic ratings of standardized tissue sections suggested more widespread inflammatory disease of the central nervous system in the high zinc group.