The Effects of Anti-inflammatory and Other Agents on the Rat Dermal Arthus Reaction

The inhibitory effects of selected drugs on the Arthus reaction, a model of immune-complex-induced tissue injury, were studied. The reverse passive Arthus reaction (RPAR) was elicited in the dorsal skin of rats, using bovine serum albumin and the gamma-globulin fraction of rabbit anti-BSA. The optimal amounts of antigen and antibody required to elicit the reaction, as well as the reaction kinetics, were examined. Chlorpheniramine, cyproheptadine, d-penicillamine, chloroquine, indomethacin, phenylbutazone, naproxen, and mefenamic acid were found to be inactive despite high doses; aspirin and ibuprofen were only weakly active. Hydrocortisone and colchicine were strong inhibitors of the RPAR: the calculated ED50 values were 13 mg/kg p.o. and 0.3 mg/kg i.v., respectively. The RPAR exhibits a different sensitivity to drug inhibition than conventional models of inflammation (e.g., carrageenin paw edema) end may be useful to detect new types of anti-inflammatory agents.