CHOOSING THE RIGHT PATH: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF RABBIT ARTHRITIS INDUCTION

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder causing inflammation in the joints, leading to debilitating effects. The establishment of dependable animal models for studying RA is critical in understanding its origins and devising effective treatments. In this study, we examined four distinct methods for inducing RA in a rabbit model. Different groups of rabbits were subjected to induction using killed E. coli, formaldehyde, normal saline, and Lugol's iodine, while a control group received no induction. The rabbits underwent assessment through radiographic analysis, pre- and post-induction joint circumference measurements, palpation reports, and visual examination of joint inflammation. Our findings highlight that the killed E. coli injection method yielded the most notable RA-like symptoms compared to the other induction methods. This suggests that the killed E. coli-induced model holds promise as a dependable and efficient tool for studying RA in rabbits.