MYCOBACTERIAL ADJUVANT PERIARTHRITIS IN RODENTS AND ITS MODIFICATION BY ANTIINFLAMMATORY AGENTS

¹ Department of Pharmacology, Geigy Research, Division of Geigy Chemical Corporation, Ardsley, New York

Adjuvant periarthritis induced by subplantan injection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was investigated in rats, mice and guinea pigs. Rats developed disseminated lesions in all extremities, ears and skin, whereas in mice and guinea pigs the inflammation remained localized in the adjuvant-injected paw. Among the various agents administered daily for 14 consecutive days, paramethasone, phenylbutazone, oxyphenbutazone, indomethacin and N-(2,6-dichloro-m-tolyl)-anthranilic acid inhibited full development of inflammation in the adjuvant-injected paw and also reduced lesions in the ears and tail and other extremities. Estradiol, 6-mercaptopunine and amethopterin completely suppressed the disseminated lesions. Chionoquin exerted no significant effect on the acute primary inflammation and the later occurring secondary lesions. Chiorpromazine and streptomycin aggravated the symptoms of adjuvant periarthritis. A second treatment period (days 26 through 35), using paramethasone, phenylbutazone and acetylsalicylic acid, again resulted in arrest and amelionation of the inflammatory process and, in addition, prevented to a great extent the aggravation of inflammation observed after termination of the first treatment.