EFFECTS OF INDOMETHACIN ON JOINT DAMAGE IN RAT AND RABBIT

AIM: To study the effects of indometacin (Ind) on joint damages. METHO DS: The volume of noninjected hind paw and interleukin-1 (IL-1) produc tion from peritoneal macrophages and articular synoviocytes induced by lipopolysaccharides were assayed in adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats. Mea surements of synovial fibroblast proliferative response and proteoglyc an synthesis of cartilage from rabbits were used. RESULTS: The seconda ry inflammatory reactions in AA rats on d 18, 21, and 24 were suppress ed by ig Ind 2 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) for 9 d. Ind promoted IL-1 production f rom both macrophages and synoviocytes in AA rats. Ind 10 mu mol.L-1 en hanced the proliferation of rabbit synovial fibroblasts and suppressed the proteoglycan synthesis of articular cartilage in response to IL-1 in vitro. CONCLUSION: Ind is unfavorable to the repair of joint destr uction.