INTERLEUKIN-1 (IL-1) PRODUCTION IN A MOUSE-TISSUE CHAMBER MODEL OF INFLAMMATION .1. DEVELOPMENT AND INITIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MODEL

A simple and reliable animal model to quantify interleukin-1 (IL-1) pr oduction at a site of inflammation has been developed and characterise d. This model involves the subcutaneous implantation of sterile Teflon (R) chambers (30 mm x 10 mm diameter) into the backs of mice. After 14 days, a straw coloured transudate fluid was present in the lumen of t he implanted chamber which was withdrawn for the determination of base line measurements of various inflammatory parameters. A localised chro nic inflammatory response was then induced in the chambers by injectio n of 1 % zymosan or Bordetella pertussis vaccine (BPV) (in presensitis ed animals). The local inflammatory reaction in the chamber, over a 30 day time course, was characterised by leucocyte infiltration, and mar ked increases in protein, prostaglandin E2, IL-1 and IL-6 concentratio ns in the chamber fluid. A rapid increase in plasma concentrations of the acute-phase reactant serum amyloid P (SAP) also occurred. This mod el allows repeated samples to be obtained from the same animal for the assessment of inflammatory parameters and may be useful for investiga ting the mechanisms controlling the production of IL-1 during the infl ammatory response in vivo.