Effects of corticosteroid on experimental chronic arthritis in rats
Authors
최기홍
Issue Date
1965
Description
의학과/박사
Abstract
[한글]
Effects of Corticosteroid on Experimental Chronic Arthritis in Rats
Ki Hong Choi, M.D.
Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology
Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
(Directed by Prof. W.C.Lee, M.D. & S.S.Hong. M.D.
Since Hench et al. claimed the beneficial effects of cortisone and ACTH on
rheumatoid arthritis in 1949. the adrenocortical hormones have been widely employed
in the treatment of arthritis. Cortisone is known to effect a marked reduction of
pain and swelling of the arthritic joint with improved range of motion, although
there is less histologic improvement. These changes are thought to be due to the
anti-inflammatory and glucogenic action of cortisone.
In 1951, Hollander et al. first observed that the local administration of
hydrocortisone elicited a better effect in the rheumatoid and degenerative
arthritis than that found following systemic administration. However, some authors
reported the local use of cortisone resulted in a Charcot's change, aseptic
necrosis of bone and occasionally a latent infection in the joint.
In this paper the systemic and local effects of prednisolone acetate on
formaldehyde-induced chronic arthritis will be presented.
Ⅰ. Materials and Methods
One hundred and ten young albino rats, around 90 gm., were used in this study. In
78 rats chronic arthritis had been induced in the right ankle; the rest of the
animals were used as non-arthritic controls.
A. Induction of chronic arthritis
Chronic arthritis was induced by the methods of Selye, injecting formaldehyde
beneath the plantar aponeuroses of the right hind paw: 0.1 cc of 1% solution twice
and 0.1 cc of 2% solution twice at a three days interval. Thereafter the animals
were kept for 32 dyas to allow the chronic arthritic state to develop.
B. Experimental groups
1. Chronic arthritic groups,
68 chronic arthritic rats were grouped and treated as follows;
(a) 14 rats were given normal saline 0.1 cc into the arthritic ankle joint
capsule every three days.
(b) 14 rats were given prednisolone acetate 1.0 mg(0.1cc) in same way as above
group.
(c) 20 rats were given prednisolone acetate 0.33mg, daily, intra-muscularly into
the left gluteal muscle and 10 out of these 20 rats received in addition norsaline
0.1cc into the arthritic joint.
(d) 20 rats were treated as group (c) except daily increasing doses of
prednisolone acetate to 1.5mg.
2. Non-arthritic control groups;
The non-arthritic 32 normal rats were divided and treated the same as group (a)
and (b) in the arthritic groups.
Weights, circumferences of the ankle and limitation of joint motions as well as
systemic changes were cheked every three days for 54 days. The animals were killed
at various time intervals, and histologic examinations were made of the involved
joints.
Ⅱ. Results
A. Induction of chronic arthritis
Marked ankle swelling was produced on every injection of the formaldehyde up to
an average circumference of 27.0mm from the initial average of 18.7mm. The average
joint motion was limited 28 degrees. In 32 days the final circumferential increase
of the ankles averaged 2.3mm in comparison to the uninvolved side, and the average
motion limitation was 11 degrees. The final histologic changes were proliferation
of joint synovium and capsule with abundant capillaries and infiltration of small
round cells which was compatible with a diagnosis of the chronic stage of
rheumatoid arthritis.
B. Body weight and systemic changes
1. Non-arthritic control groups;
Normal saline injections showed no changes in the rats. Their final average
weight gain was 74% of the initial weight. Local injection of prednisolone resulted
in a marked inhibition of weight gain (only 7%) with marked emaciation and skin
erosion of the lips and fore paws.
2. Chronic arthritic groups;
Local injection of normal saline caused results similar to the non-arthritic
control group with an average of 61% final weight gain. Local injection of
prednisolone resulted in an average of 5% weight loss in the first half period of
the experiment but finally there was a 5% gain in 54 days.
Systemic injection of prednisolone caused an average weight loss of 10%
throughout the experiment. Massive doses of prednisolone caused a sudden and marked
loss of weight with severe skin erosion and death in nine to fifteen days.
C. Ankle jiont changes
1. Non-arthritic control groups;
Local injection of normal saline caused no chages in the ankle joint which grew
normally. Local injection of prednisolone over 15 days reduced the circumferences
of the ankle an average of 1.3mm but during the next five weeks the circumference
increase slowly. They became infected.
2. Chronic arthritic groups;
Local injection of normal saline into the arthritic ankles reduced the ankle
swelling an average of 1.17mm during the first two weeks, thereafter finally a
fibrous ankylosis occured in the joints. Prednisolone locally reduced the swelling
markedly (2.4mm in average) in 15 days but thereafter the swelling became worse
during the next four weeks. Finally the ankles became infected and there was marked
skin erosion. The joint motion became free in one week.
Systemic injection of prednisolone elicit a very poor effect on the ankle
swelling throughout the experiment and the ankle swelling was reduced less than
0.8mm in average. Limitation of joint motion disappeared within ten days but later
in the experiment there was a tendency for induration around the ankle. Massive
doses of prednisolone systemically markedly reduced swelling until the rats dies in
9 to 15 days.
D. Histological Changes
1. Non-arthritic control groups;
Local injection of normal saline caused no changes but prednisolone locally
resulted in a marked atrophy of the subcutaneous, tendon, ligament and muscle
tissue and small abscess formation during the 54 days study period.
2. Chronic arthritic groups;
Normal saline locally had no effect on the pathologic joint. Finally a fibrous
ankylosis of the ankle joints occured. Prednisolone locally resulted in an almost
complete disappearance of the pathological changes within 18 days, but also there
was a marked atrophy of the normal connective tissue and also abscess formation
noted after 30 days.
Systemic injection of prednisolone were followed by an improvement in the
histological changes which was still incomplete at the last day of the experiment.
Massive doses of prednisolone injection caused a marked atrophy of the connective
tissue with only a little improvement on the arthritic changes until the rats died.
One third showed abscess formation.
1. Formaldehyde-induced chronic arthritis of Selye was reprcduced in close
similarity to the pathological changes in the chronic stage of rheumatoid
arthritis.
2. The administration of prednisolone, either systemic or local, caused marked
inhibition of normal weight gain in young rats, being more pronounced in female.
3. Prolonged or massive administration of prednisolone caused skin erosion and
joint infection. These side effects were more severe after systemic administration
than after local administration.
4. The local administration of prednisolone caused atrophy of the periarticular
connective tissue in intact animals.
5. The administration of prednisolone was followed by a return to the full range
of joint motion in relatively earier stage of treatment in arthritic animals.
6. Almost complete recovery of the pathological changes of experimental chronic
arthritis were obtained in prolonged local injections of prednisolone. However, a
prolonged administration was accompanied by atrophy of intact connective tissue and
increased chance to infection.
7. The greatest therapeutic effects of involved arthritic tissue were obtained in
first eight days by local injection of prednisolone in minimum involvement of
intact tissue.
From the data obtained, it is concluded that the greatest effect of
corticosteroid in chronic arthritis is secured by a local and short term
administration of the drug.
[영문]
Since Hench et al. claimed the beneficial effects of cortisone and ACTH on rheumatoid arthritis in 1949. the adrenocortical hormones have been widely employed in the treatment of arthritis. Cortisone is known to effect a marked reduction of pain and swelling of the arthritic joint with improved range of motion, although there is less histologic improvement. These changes are thought to be due to the anti-inflammatory and glucogenic action of cortisone.
In 1951, Hollander et al. first observed that the local administration of hydrocortisone elicited a better effect in the rheumatoid and degenerative arthritis than that found following systemic administration. However, some authors reported the local use of cortisone resulted in a Charcot's change, aseptic necrosis of bone and occasionally a latent infection in the joint.
In this paper the systemic and local effects of prednisolone acetate on formaldehyde-induced chronic arthritis will be presented.
Ⅰ. Materials and Methods
One hundred and ten young albino rats, around 90 gm., were used in this study. In 78 rats chronic arthritis had been induced in the right ankle; the rest of the animals were used as non-arthritic controls.
A. Induction of chronic arthritis
Chronic arthritis was induced by the methods of Selye, injecting formaldehyde beneath the plantar aponeuroses of the right hind paw: 0.1 cc of 1% solution twice and 0.1 cc of 2% solution twice at a three days interval. Thereafter the animals
were kept for 32 dyas to allow the chronic arthritic state to develop.
B. Experimental groups
1. Chronic arthritic groups,
68 chronic arthritic rats were grouped and treated as follows;
(a) 14 rats were given normal saline 0.1 cc into the arthritic ankle joint capsule every three days.
(b) 14 rats were given prednisolone acetate 1.0 mg(0.1cc) in same way as above group.
(c) 20 rats were given prednisolone acetate 0.33mg, daily, intra-muscularly into the left gluteal muscle and 10 out of these 20 rats received in addition norsaline 0.1cc into the arthritic joint.
(d) 20 rats were treated as group (c) except daily increasing doses of prednisolone acetate to 1.5mg.
2. Non-arthritic control groups;
The non-arthritic 32 normal rats were divided and treated the same as group (a) and (b) in the arthritic groups.
Weights, circumferences of the ankle and limitation of joint motions as well as systemic changes were cheked every three days for 54 days. The animals were killed at various time intervals, and histologic examinations were made of the involved
joints.
Ⅱ. Results
A. Induction of chronic arthritis
Marked ankle swelling was produced on every injection of the formaldehyde up to an average circumference of 27.0mm from the initial average of 18.7mm. The average joint motion was limited 28 degrees. In 32 days the final circumferential increase
of the ankles averaged 2.3mm in comparison to the uninvolved side, and the average motion limitation was 11 degrees. The final histologic changes were proliferation of joint synovium and capsule with abundant capillaries and infiltration of small
round cells which was compatible with a diagnosis of the chronic stage of rheumatoid arthritis.
B. Body weight and systemic changes
1. Non-arthritic control groups;
Normal saline injections showed no changes in the rats. Their final average weight gain was 74% of the initial weight. Local injection of prednisolone resulted in a marked inhibition of weight gain (only 7%) with marked emaciation and skin
erosion of the lips and fore paws.
2. Chronic arthritic groups;
Local injection of normal saline caused results similar to the non-arthritic control group with an average of 61% final weight gain. Local injection of prednisolone resulted in an average of 5% weight loss in the first half period of the experiment but finally there was a 5% gain in 54 days.
Systemic injection of prednisolone caused an average weight loss of 10% throughout the experiment. Massive doses of prednisolone caused a sudden and marked loss of weight with severe skin erosion and death in nine to fifteen days.
C. Ankle jiont changes
1. Non-arthritic control groups;
Local injection of normal saline caused no chages in the ankle joint which grew normally. Local injection of prednisolone over 15 days reduced the circumferences of the ankle an average of 1.3mm but during the next five weeks the circumference increase slowly. They became infected.
2. Chronic arthritic groups;
Local injection of normal saline into the arthritic ankles reduced the ankle swelling an average of 1.17mm during the first two weeks, thereafter finally a fibrous ankylosis occured in the joints. Prednisolone locally reduced the swelling
markedly (2.4mm in average) in 15 days but thereafter the swelling became worse during the next four weeks. Finally the ankles became infected and there was marked skin erosion. The joint motion became free in one week.
Systemic injection of prednisolone elicit a very poor effect on the ankle swelling throughout the experiment and the ankle swelling was reduced less than 0.8mm in average. Limitation of joint motion disappeared within ten days but later in the experiment there was a tendency for induration around the ankle. Massive doses of prednisolone systemically markedly reduced swelling until the rats dies in 9 to 15 days.
D. Histological Changes
1. Non-arthritic control groups;
Local injection of normal saline caused no changes but prednisolone locally resulted in a marked atrophy of the subcutaneous, tendon, ligament and muscle tissue and small abscess formation during the 54 days study period.
2. Chronic arthritic groups;
Normal saline locally had no effect on the pathologic joint. Finally a fibrous ankylosis of the ankle joints occured. Prednisolone locally resulted in an almost complete disappearance of the pathological changes within 18 days, but also there
was a marked atrophy of the normal connective tissue and also abscess formation noted after 30 days.
Systemic injection of prednisolone were followed by an improvement in the histological changes which was still incomplete at the last day of the experiment.
Massive doses of prednisolone injection caused a marked atrophy of the connective tissue with only a little improvement on the arthritic changes until the rats died.
One third showed abscess formation.
1. Formaldehyde-induced chronic arthritis of Selye was reprcduced in close similarity to the pathological changes in the chronic stage of rheumatoid arthritis.
2. The administration of prednisolone, either systemic or local, caused marked inhibition of normal weight gain in young rats, being more pronounced in female.
3. Prolonged or massive administration of prednisolone caused skin erosion and joint infection. These side effects were more severe after systemic administration than after local administration.
4. The local administration of prednisolone caused atrophy of the periarticular connective tissue in intact animals.
5. The administration of prednisolone was followed by a return to the full range of joint motion in relatively earier stage of treatment in arthritic animals.
6. Almost complete recovery of the pathological changes of experimental chronic arthritis were obtained in prolonged local injections of prednisolone. However, a prolonged administration was accompanied by atrophy of intact connective tissue and
increased chance to infection.
7. The greatest therapeutic effects of involved arthritic tissue were obtained in first eight days by local injection of prednisolone in minimum involvement of intact tissue.
From the data obtained, it is concluded that the greatest effect of corticosteroid in chronic arthritis is secured by a local and short term administration of the drug.