COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THE ACTION OF FLUNIXIN MEGLUMINE AND TOLFENAMIC ACID ON PROSTAGLANDIN-E2 SYNTHESIS IN BOVINE INFLAMMATORY EXUDATE

An acute non-immune inflammation model was used to compare the action of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, flunixin meglumine and t olfenamic acid, on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) Synthesis in bovine inflamm atory exudate. The tissue cage model used involves subcutaneous implan tation of polypropylene cages and subsequent stimulation by carrageena n injection of the granulation tissue which develops within the cage. Twelve calves were randomly assigned to three groups receiving placebo , flunixin meglumine and tolfenamic acid, respectively. Inflammatory e xudate was sampled 30 min after carrageenan injection and at seven sub sequent time points. PGE2 levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. At each time point post-carrageenan injection, flunixin meglumine inhi bited PGE2 synthesis to a greater extent than tolfenamic acid. At 4, 8 , 12 and 24 h these differences were statistically significant.