THE PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF LOCOMOTOR-ACTIVITY VERSUS INFLAMMATORY PARAMETERS IN RAT ADJUVANT ARTHRITIS

Adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) is an experimental model of inflammato ry joint disease in the rat which mimics rheumatoid arthritis. Althoug h paw inflammation (e.g., swelling) is commonly used to monitor the ef ficacy of antiarthritic drugs, a reduction in locomotor function may p rovide a more sensitive evaluation of ''functional disability'' in AA rats. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect o f dietary therapy with prednisolone or ibuprofen on locomotor activity as well as arthritic symptoms in established AA (days 20-42). AA rats demonstrated an increase in arthritis scores, spleen weights, fibrino gen, and WBC along with a reduction in locomotor function. Prednisolon e (2 mg/kg/day) exhibited a positive therapeutic effect on all these p arameters. Ibuprofen (50 mg/kg/day) consistently lowered arthritis sco res and fibrinogen; however, locomotor function only improved on day 3 5. In conclusion, the measurement of locomotor activity in concert wit h other experimental parameters may provide a more meaningful evaluati on of disease severity or improvement in AA.