Abstract
Summary
Various methods for inducing AA in rats were examined using different rat strains, adjuvant preparations, and sites of injection. The time course of the development of arthritis in the injected and nonin-jected extremity was determined and methods for inducing a disease with limited variability and a high incidence was demonstrated. Standard compounds were tested in two models of AA with special reference to denning a method for discriminating between inhibition due to immunosuppression (IS) and that due to anti-inflammatory (AI) effects. 12 daily doses of IS agents, started on the day of adjuvant injection, totally prevented the disease in the noninjected extremity when measurements were made on day 21. Standard AI agents were ineffective. This test (nonestablished arthritis) was therefore capable of detecting compounds with immunosuppressive potential. The same standard compounds were administered daily for 12 days after the peak of the disease had been reached (established arthritis). In this test the IS compounds were ineffective in reducing the disease in the injected extremity, whereas the anti-inflammatory agents inhibited the disease in a dose related manner. The results indicate that with the use of both models of AA it was possible to detect compounds which were selectively either AI or IS.
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