How should inflammation in rats be treated? - briefly
Administer a non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drug (e.g., meloxicam or carprofen) at the recommended dose, preferably via oral or subcutaneous route, to control edema and pain. For refractory inflammation, add a short course of corticosteroid such as dexamethasone, accompanied by analgesia and regular monitoring of clinical signs.
How should inflammation in rats be treated? - in detail
Inflammation in laboratory rats requires a systematic approach that combines pharmacological intervention, supportive care, and rigorous monitoring.
First‑line drugs include non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory agents such as meloxicam (1–2 mg kg⁻¹, subcutaneous, once daily) or carprofen (5 mg kg⁻¹, oral, twice daily). For severe cases, corticosteroids like dexamethasone (0.1 mg kg⁻¹, intraperitoneal, every 24 h) provide rapid suppression of cytokine release. Selective COX‑2 inhibitors (e.g., celecoxib, 30 mg kg⁻¹, oral, once daily) reduce gastrointestinal side effects while maintaining anti‑inflammatory efficacy.
Adjunctive therapies enhance outcomes:
- Analgesics: buprenorphine (0.05 mg kg⁻¹, subcutaneous, every 12 h) to control pain that can exacerbate inflammatory responses.
- Antioxidants: N‑acetylcysteine (150 mg kg⁻¹, oral, daily) or vitamin E (100 IU kg⁻¹, dietary) to mitigate oxidative stress.
- Cytokine inhibitors: monoclonal antibodies targeting TNF‑α (e.g., infliximab, 5 mg kg⁻¹, intraperitoneal, weekly) for immune‑mediated models.
Non‑pharmacologic measures include:
- Temperature regulation: maintain ambient temperature at 22 ± 2 °C; apply warm packs for localized hypothermia‑induced inflammation.
- Hydration and nutrition: provide gelled diet and isotonic saline (10 mL kg⁻¹, subcutaneous) to prevent dehydration.
Monitoring protocols:
- Record body weight, temperature, and activity daily.
- Assess edema and erythema using calibrated calipers.
- Collect blood samples on days 0, 2, and 7 for C‑reactive protein, IL‑6, and TNF‑α levels.
- Perform histopathology on target tissues at study termination to verify therapeutic effect.
Ethical compliance mandates approval from an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and adherence to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. All interventions must be documented, and humane endpoints applied if pain or distress persists despite treatment.
By integrating appropriate drug regimens, supportive strategies, and systematic observation, researchers can effectively control inflammatory processes in rat models while maintaining scientific rigor and animal welfare.