Models of inflammation: Carrageenan- or complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-induced edema and hypersensitivity in the rat

Abstract

Animal models of inflammation are used to assess the production of inflammatory mediators at sites of inflammation, the anti-inflammatory properties of agents such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and the efficacy of putative analgesic compounds to reverse cutaneous hypersensitivity. This protocol details methods to elicit and measure carrageenan- and complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced cutaneous inflammation. Due to possible differences between the dorsal root sensory system and the trigeminal sensory system, injections of either the footpad or vibrissal pad are described. In this manner, cutaneous inflammation can be assessed in tissue innervated by the lumbar dorsal root ganglion neurons (footpad) and by the trigeminal ganglion neurons (vibrissal pad).