ACTION OF ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUGS ON THE LYSOZYME ACTIVITY AND "TURBIDITY" OF SERUM FROM RATS WITH ADJUVANT ARTHRITIS OR ENDOCRINE DEFICIENCY

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

Serum lysozyme levels are found to be increased in adjuvant polyarthritic rats and correlate well with gross limb findings and the decreases in turbidity measurements as determined by the stability of serum protein against heat denaturation. Paramethasone, phenylbutazone and indomethacin, which have been shown to normalize limb swelling and turbidity levels in adjuvant rats, also prevent the observed increases in serum lysozyme activity. Acetylsalicylic acid is found to be ineffective. An increase in lysozyme levels accompanied by a decrease in turbidity is noted in rats following acute stress. The serum lysozyme and turbidity levels in endocrine-deficient rats and the effects of paramethasone have been compared.