Effects of antiinflammatory agents on rat paw tuberculin response

Abstract

A marked tuberculin response as well as carrageenin edema were induced in rat hind paw to compare the effects of antiinflammatory agents on these responses. Non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents such as diclofenac and piroxicam were very weak inhibitors of the paw tuberculin response. These agents showed only a slight inhibitory effect on tuberculin response even at doses that were four to five times larger than the 50% effective doses for inhibiting carrageenin edema. On the other hand, steroidal antiinflammatory agents, dexamethasone and prednisolone, showed potent inhibitory effects on the paw tuberculin response at the 50% effective doses for inhibiting carrageenin edema. The above findings clearly revealed the difference in characters between non-steroids and steroids by comparing their effects on tuberculin response and carrageenin edema. The different properties of two classes of antiinflammatory drugs may be of significance in evaluating the effect of antiinflammatory agents on delayed-type hypersensitivity.