We have investigated the role of B cells in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)‐induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) using B cell‐deficient mice (μMT) and mice bearing the X‐linked immunodeficiency (xid). The mice were immunized with MOG_1–125 in complete Freund's adjuvant but without use of pertussis toxin. B cell‐deficient μMT mice on different genetic backgrounds (C57BL/10 and DBA/1 strains) developed EAE, although with a reduced clinical severity. Histological analyses revealed decreased demyelination in the central nervous system while the influx of inflammatory cells was similar or only slightly reduced as compared to B cell‐sufficient control mice. Xid mice on the DBA/1 background also developed disease with a reduced disease severity. The anti‐MOG antibody response in the xid mice was decreased, while the T cell response to MOG was unaffected. We thus demonstrate that B cells are not critical for the development of MOG‐induced EAE but contribute to the severity. The contribution of B cells to pathogenesis appears to be mainly through demyelination rather than through inflammation.