CETYL MYRISTOLEATE ISOLATED FROM SWISS ALBINO MICE - AN APPARENT PROTECTIVE AGENT AGAINST ADJUVANT ARTHRITIS IN RATS

Cetyl myristoleate was isolated from National Institutes of Health, ge neral purpose, Swiss albino mice that were immune to the polyarthritis induced in rats with Freund's adjuvant. This substance, or material s ynthesized from cetyl alcohol and myristoleic acid, afforded good prot ection against adjuvant-induced arthritic states in rats. In limited c omparisons, cetyl oleate, also found in Swiss albino mice, gave lesser protection, whereas cetyl myristate and cetyl elaidate, the trans-iso mer of cetyl oleate, appeared to be virtually ineffective. Dosage of t he protective compound as well as the site of injection of Freund's ad juvant was important.