[Effect of concanavalin A on the nucleic acid concentration and acid nuclease activity of the spleen and liver of rats with adjuvant arthritis].

A single injection of concanavalin A (Con A) in a dose of 90 micrograms/10 g bw to healthy rats caused a stress followed by changes in the mass of lymphoid organs and liver, decreased activity of acid RNase and DNase and elevated concentration of nucleic acids in these organs. The changes observed were reversible in each test system, disappearing at varying times after Con A injection. Injection of Con A coupled with Freund's adjuvant (FA) followed by daily Con A injections for 2 weeks exerted a modulating influence on adjuvant arthritis. In normal rats, acid RNase activity, decreased after FA injection, returned to normal after stimulation with Con A over two weeks prior to FA injection followed by Con A injection during additional two weeks. The RNA/DNA ratio was maximal when FA was injected together with Con A.