title: Pathophysiological basis of acute inflammatory hyperaemia in the rat knee: roles of cyclo-oxygenase-1 and -2.
abstract: The role of different isoforms of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) in mediating the acute (0-6 h) and late (24 h) phases of inflammation was investigated in the rat knee joint following intra-articular injection of carrageenan. The hyperaemic response was assessed transcutaneously using laser Doppler imaging (LDI). Samples were taken at corresponding time points for detection of synovial COX-1, COX-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA, and measurement of urinary prostaglandin (PG) and nitric oxide metabolites (NO(x)). A non-selective COX inhibitor (indomethacin, 15 mg kg(-1) I.P.), a selective COX-2 inhibitor (SC-236, 16.8 mg kg(-1) I.P.) or vehicle were administered 1 h prior to carrageenan in the acute phase study. LDI scans were taken hourly for 4 h post-induction. Inflammatory hyperaemia in the vehicle group was attenuated in the indomethacin- (P < 0.001, two-way ANOVA) and SC-236-treated groups (P < 0.0001), with no difference between these treatments. At 24 h, I.V. infusion of indomethacin (0.1 mg min(-1)), increased vascular resistance (24 +/- 7.1 %; P < 0.05) compared to vehicle infusion, whereas SC-236 (0.11 mg min(-1)) did not. Resistance changes to indomethacin also differed from SC-236 (P < 0.05). Knee joint diameter progressively increased over 24 h (P < 0.0001, one-way ANOVA). Urinary PG levels increased by 6 h (P < 0.05), but returned to baseline by 24 h. COX-1 mRNA was detectable at all time points; COX-2 mRNA only at 3 h. Urinary NO(x) levels increased progressively over 24 h (P < 0.05), paralleled by induction of iNOS in the 3 and 24 h samples. Prostaglandin production via COX-2 appears to mediate the development of acute inflammatory hyperaemia, but nitrergic mechanisms may supervene subsequently. COX-1 but not COX-2 contributes to the maintenance of basal blood flow in the hyperaemic joint at 24 h.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Paisley, Paisley PA1 2BE, UK.
authors.forename: Colin G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lockhart
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Ferrell
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: McLean
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002351:Carrageenan; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000652:urine; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009566:Nitrates / Q000652:urine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D009573:Nitrites / Q000652:urine; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D011453:Prostaglandins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002351:Carrageenan; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; C496513:Ptgs1 protein, rat; D015232:Dinoprostone