title: Oral buprenorphine is anti-inflammatory and modulates the pathogenesis of streptococcal cell wall polymer-induced arthritis in the Lew/SSN rat.
abstract: This study was carried out to determine an effective regimen for pain management in streptococcal cell wall (SCW)-induced arthritis in female Lew/SSN rats. Forty weanling rats lin 2 groups) were trained to accept disks of jelly as part of their dietary regimen. At 8 weeks of age weighing 150 g, SCW arthritis was induced and sublingual buprenorphine tablets were incorporated into the jelly disks to alleviate the pain of acute arthritis, which developed 24 h post-induction. Group A rats received buprenorphine at a rate of 1 mg/kg 12 hourly. Group B rats received buprenorphine at a rate of 2 mg/kg 12 hourly. Both groups of rats were monitored for symptoms of distress using an adaptation of the Morton and Griffin scale of adverse reactions. Group A rats with severe arthritis required additional subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of buprenorphine to alleviate the adverse effects of arthritis. Group B rats, with twice the dose of buprenorphine did not require additional s.c. injections of buprenorphine. Histological sections of rat hocks indicated that the inflammation was suppressed in Group B rats. We concluded that oral administration of buprenorphine is an effective method of pain management in the pathogenesis of SCW-induced arthritis in Lew/SSN rats. In this model of arthritis, oral buprenorphine has a significant anti-inflammatory effect and appears to modulate the destructive arthritic phase in joints in this animal model of arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Volker
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bate
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gentle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garg
mesh_terms: D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D001168:Arthritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D010166:Palliative Care; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C102511:cell wall polysaccharide, Streptococcus; D002047:Buprenorphine