Local cell populations in experimental arthritides.

Abstract

Different models reproduce different features of RA. The rabbit model is a good parallel at the histological level but it is not a polyarthritis and it relies on intra-articular injection. The two rodent models do not show the inflammatory infiltrate typical of RA, and the connective tissue response is much more severe (at least in the paws), but they are both polyarthritides which do not rely on intra-articular injections. Although all three models are induced immunologically, only the rabbit joint pathology shows evidence of local lymphocytes and plasma cells. Such differences must be remembered when in vitro studies are being related to the animal models, and when exper-imental models are being used to study RA.