ZYMOSAN-INDUCED ARTHRITIS IN RATS .2. EFFECTS OF ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUGS

As zymosan-induced arthritis in rats combines dual activation of early prostaglandin-dependent processes (edema, fever, pain) and IL-1 relat ed effects on cartilage metabolism, we compared the respective influen ces of indomethacin (IMT) and dexamethasone (DEX) on its course. Diffe rent parameters were assessed: knee swelling, febrile response, loss o f activity, cartilage metabolism and histology. DEX improved all these parameters, while IMT exerted only light beneficial effects on fever and knee swelling without obvious beneficial influence on cartilage me tabolism and histological lesions. These results suggest that anti-inf lammatory activities of DEX and IMT are due to interferences with diff erent pathways during zymosan-induced arthritis in rats.