Rheumatoid-Like Joint Lesions in Rabbits Injected Intravenously with Bovine Serum

Abstract

Rheumatoid-like synovial lesions have been produced experimentally in 21% of rabbits receiving intravenous injections of bovine serum by various regimens. They were characterized by lining cell hyperplasia, accumulations, often follicular, of lymphocytes and plasma cells just under the lining layer, sometimes with extensive fibroplasia and pannus formation with cartilage erosion.

Early Rheumatoid-Like Joint Lesions in Rabbits Drinking Cows’ Milk

“…Rabbits injected intravenously with bov ine serum according to certain regimens de velop synovial lesions which, in their histopathology, resemble those found in rheuma toid disease [Poole and Coombs, 1977;Poole et al" 1978). In a further report [Old ham and Coombs, 1980] a small group of 3 rabbits was injected repeatedly with bovine milk instead of with bovine serum and only 1 out of these New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits developed mild joint lesions.…”

Early Rheumatoid-Like Lesions in Rabbits Injected with Foreign Serum

“…Further reports are awaited to determine whether it is the rat that is peculiarly sus ceptible to collagen arthritis, as it is to adju vant arthritis, or whether it is the rabbit that is unusually resistant [Courtenay et al, 1980]. The joint lesions seen in the rats with CA were distinct histologically from the joint lesions we see in rabbits in the SSM [Poole and Coombs, 1977], Although the joint lesions induced in rats by collagen injection have certain similarities to those occurring in rheumatoid arthritis, the cellu lar infiltration is different. In contrast, in the SSM the cellular infiltration of the joint tissues bears a striking resemblance to that seen in human rheumatoid arthritis, but the severity and chronicity is lacking.…”

“…Bovine serum (heat-inactivated) was adminis tered by intravenous injection as previously de scribed [Poole and Coombs, 1977], Briefly, one large injection of 5 ml bovine serum per kilogram body weight was given on day 0 and four smaller subsequent injections were given on days 21 (2 ml/ rabbit), 22 (4 ml/rabbit), 28 (2 ml/rabbit), and 29 (4 ml/rabbit).…”

“…When the animals were sacrificed both knees and ankles (whole joints) were taken from the rats and processed for histology as described elsewhere [Oldham et al, 1980], Joint tissues were dissected from the rabbits and treated for histolo gy as previously described [Poole and Coombs, 1977],…”

Early Rheumatoid-Like Joint Lesions in Rabbits Injected with Foreign Serum

“…Histological and joint fluid studies were as de scribed previously [Poole and Coombs, 1977;Poole et al, 1978]. Joint lesions were scored on a 0 to + + + + scale, depending on the joint tissue changes (see footnote to table I).…”