Adjuvant-carrageenan-induced inflammation in mice

1. A study was conducted to evaluate the optimum conditions for the induction of adjuvant-carrageenan-induced inflammation (ACII) in Swiss and DBA/1 mice. 2. ACII was induced in mice under experimental conditions similar to those known to be effective in rats. Mice were immunized by subdermal injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA), followed by a subplantar inoculation of carrageenan at different times. 3. The diversities of the responses on ACII between both strains of mice and rats were observed. Data obtained indicate that DBA/1 mice showed an increase in hindpaw and ankle joint swelling, which was more evident on day 21 after carrageenan injection, independently of the time of application of this phlogistic agent. At this time, the histopathological changes were similar to those seen in rats, and were characterized by epidermal hyperplasia, with leukocyte infiltration and granuloma formation. 4. We found that DBA/1 mice, instead of rats, can be used for the evaluation of anti-inflammatory drug activity. However, it is advisable also to consult the histological data to establish whether the synovial changes revert.