A modification of rat adjuvant arthritis for testing antirheumatic drugs

Abstract

An inflammation having an acute and a prolonged phase was induced by the injection of carrageenan into the paw of rats inoculated with adjuvant 6 days previously (adjuvant-carrageenan-induced inflammation, ACII). Steroidal and acidic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were effective on both phases. Basic non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs were effective only on the acute phase, and cytotoxic drugs only on the prolonged phase. Neither gold nor chloroquine preparations inhibited either phase. Effectiveness of drugs on the acute phase was similar to that on carrageenan oedema. Inhibitory effects of drugs on the prolonged phase were similar to those on the secondary lesions of adjuvant arthritis. The ACII test is considered to have advantages compared with the adjuvant arthritis test in duration of drug administration, in the measurement of intensity of inflammation, in the time for experiment and in analysing the action of drugs.