Experimental arthropathy induced in rhesus monkeys and DBA/1 mice by a novel method: intraperitoneal implantation of type II collagen adsorbed onto nitrocellulose filters.

A novel method which avoids the use of complete Freund's adjuvant (which can be arthritogenic) has been used to induce collagen II arthritis in both primates and mice. A solution of bovine type II collagen was dried onto nitrocellulose filters and implanted in the peritoneal cavity of experimental animals. Primate and mouse joints were scored by clinical as well as gross and microscopic parameters. The polyarthritis that developed in both rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and DBA/1 LAC J mice was characterized by synovial cell proliferation and endothelial cell hyperplasia, and by a perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrate of the synovium. Primates were analyzed further for anti-type II collagen antibody titers and delayed type hypersensitivity to type II collagen. Anti-type II collagen serum titers appeared to be unrelated to the disease pathology; the primates did not display delayed-type hypersensitivity to type II collagen. Control monkeys and mice implanted with collagen-free nitrocellulose filters were normal upon clinical and histopathological analysis. This protocol offers the advantage of the induction of arthritis due solely to immunization with antigen.