Physiological characterization of mBSA antigen induced arthritis in the rat. II. Joint blood flow, glucose metabolism, and cell proliferation.
OBJECTIVE
Based on the hypothesis that blood flow in the inflamed joint is inadequate to maintain aerobic glycolysis, we sought to estimate the correlation between blood flow, glucose metabolism, and cellular proliferation rate in the arthritic joint.


METHODS
Experiments were performed on rats with antigen induced arthritis (AIA). Regional blood flows (RBF) were measured with the microsphere technique, glucose metabolism by determination of [14C]2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) uptake, and the proliferative response as the incorporation of [3H]-thymidine.


RESULTS
In periarticular soft tissue of the arthritic knee the only significant change in the weight related RBF was an approximate 70% rise on Day 14 after arthritis onset. The RBF was lowest on Day 3 and the time course for the changes was inversely related to intensity of vascular inflammation. Weight related 2-DG uptake was more elevated than the RBF and peaked on Day 3. [3H]-thymidine incorporation in the soft tissue was only markedly enhanced on Day 3. Neither 2-DG nor [3H]-thymidine uptake was affected by treatment with methotrexate or indomethacin. In epiphyseal bone RBF was reduced on the first day of arthritis, but steadily increased thereafter.


CONCLUSIONS
In AIA an intense vascular leakiness negatively affects the synovial blood. There is a marked enhancement of glucose metabolism, but only a minor part of this increase seems to be induced by increased cellular proliferation.
Andersson
S E
SE
Department of Pharmacology, Preclinical Research and Development, Astra Draco AB, Lund, Sweden.
Johansson
A
A
Lexmüller
K
K
Ekström
G M
GM
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001168:Arthritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001345:Autoradiography; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007596:Joints / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C029180:methylated bovine serum albumin; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D003847:Deoxyglucose; D005947:Glucose; D007213:Indomethacin; D008727:Methotrexate