QUANTITATIVE-EVALUATION OF AN EXPERIMENTAL INFLAMMATION-INDUCED WITH FREUNDS COMPLETE ADJUVANT IN DOGS

A chronic inflammation model in dogs was induced by intraarticular inj ection of Freund's Complete Adjuvant in the stifle. After a primary, a cute response during the first 24 hr, a secondary subacute response wa s observed after a delay of approximately 3 weeks and persisted for se veral weeks. To evaluate the time course of the inflammatory process q uantitatively, we tested more than 100 different parameters. Finally, only four parameters were selected based on practicability and metrolo gical properties, namely, the body temperature, difference in skin tem perature, difference in stifle diameter and vertical force exerted by arthritic hind limb measured using a force plate. The main results of the experimentation were the demonstration that these four parameters were sufficiently repeatable, reproducible, and appropriate to be used for quantitative evaluation of the inflammatory process, and that tra ining of both animals and investigators was required. Finally, it was illustrated that an adjuvant periarthritis in dogs can be used to carr y out a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modelling of an antiinflammato ry drug.