The effect of anti-inflammatory and rheumatoid disease modifying drugs on prolonged immune and non-immune inflammation in the six-day air pouch of rats.

The six-day air pouch model of synovitis in rats was used to study the effects of non-steroidal and anti-rheumatic drugs on cell accumulation and exudate formation. Inflammation was induced in the six-day air pouch either with the non-immune irritant carrageenan or the immune irritant Bordetella pertussis. Indomethacin reduced cell accumulation and exudate formation in both models. In contrast levamisole and D-penicillamine were unable to reduce either parameter, D-penicillamine actually producing at certain times a pro-inflammatory effect. The steroid dexamethasone caused the total inhibition of inflammatory exudate formation and cell accumulation. The six-day air pouch of rats may therefore be useful for the detection of agents which inhibit chronic inflammation.