Abstract
The adjuvant arthritic rat (AAR) and experimental allergic encephalomyelitic rat (EAE) are models for studying inflammatory reactions triggered by immunologic processes (1-3). In the AAR the disease manifests itself in a systemic inflammation which can be evaluated by measuring the swelling of the hind paws. In the EAE the inflammation encompasses the myelin sheath which results in hind limb paralysis. Although there are similarities between these two models, the response varies according to the classes of drugs. Anti-inflammatory drugs, both steroidal and nonsteroidal as well as immunosuppressants are active in the AAR while only steroids and immunosuppressants are active in the EAE (4, 5).
Clonixin* [2-(2'-methyl-3'-chloroanilino)nicotinic acid] is a nonsteroid anti-inflammatory agent with analgesic and antipyretic properties (6-8) and prevents inflammation in AAR when rats are treated either prophylactically or therapeutically. The demonstrable antiinflammatory activity of clonixin raised the possibility that it might also be effective in EAE.
The aim of this study was to more fully evaluate the activity of clonixin in the AAR and to compare same with the effects observed in the EAE. Betamethasone, a steroidal antiinflammatory agent, was included in this study for comparative purposes.
