Tissue chamber model of acute inflammation in farm animal species

A tissue chamber model of acute inflammation for use in comparative studies in calves, sheep, goats and pigs has been established and validated. Tissue chambers were prepared from silicon rubber tubing, of inner diameter 12.7 mm, length 115 mm and volume 15 ml, with 10 holes, each of 6mm diameter, at each end. In each animal two or four chambers were inserted at subcutaneous sites. Six weeks after implantation an acute inflammatory reaction in a single cage was generated by the intracaveal injection of 0.5 ml of 1% carrageenan solution. Serial samples of exudate (injected chamber), transudate (non-injected chamber) and blood were collected for measurement of exudate and transudate leucocyte count, prostaglandin (PG)E(2) concentration in exudate and serum thromboxane (Tx)B(2) concentration. In addition, skin temperature changes over exudate and transudate chambers were recorded. In all four species, carrageenan induced an acute inflammatory response, indicated by increases to peak values followed by return towards baseline in skin temperature, leucocyte count and PGE(2) concentration. For each of these variables in calves, sheep and goats the increases were significantly greater for exudate than for transudate. The degree of intra-species variation in each variable was acceptable. Marked inter-species differences were recorded: skin temperature rise was greatest in calves and least in sheep and goats; exudate PGE(2) concentration was increased in the order sheep>goat>pig>calf; serum TxB(2) concentration was increased in the order calf>goat>sheep>pig and exudate leucocyte count was increased to a greater extent in the pig than in the three ruminant species. The model has advantages over some previously described tissue chamber models of inflammation and will be suitable for use in comparative studies of inflammatory mechanisms and the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anti-inflammatory drugs.