THE EFFECTS OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND OTHER AGENTS ON THE RAT DERMAL ARTHUS REACTION

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 35  (2) , 189-207
Abstract
The inhibitory effects of selected drugs on the Arthus reaction, a model of immune-complex-induced tissue injury, were studied. The reverse passive Arthus reaction (RPAR) was elicited in the dorsal skin of rats, using bovine serum albumin [BSA] and the .gamma.-globulin fraction of rabbit anti-BSA. The optimal amounts of antigen and antibody required to elicit the reaction, and the reaction kinetics, were examined. Chlorpheniramine, cyproheptadine, D-penicillamine, -chloroquine, indomethacin, phenylbutazone, naproxen and mefenamic acid were inactive despite high doses; aspirin and ibuprofen were only weakly active. Hydrocortisone and colchicine were strong inhibitors of the RPAR: the calculated ED50 values were 13 mg/kg p.o. orally and 0.3 mg/kg i.v., respectively. The RPAR exhibits a different sensitivity to drug inhibition than conventional models of inflammation and may be useful to detect new types of anti-inflammatory agents.