A Possible Role of Arachidonate Metabolism in Allergic Air Pouch Inflammation in Rats

The effect of indomethacin and dexamethasone on an allergic inflammation in rats, a novel model of allergic inflammation of an air pouch type, was examined. Indomethacin and dexamethasone exerted a dose-dependent inhibition of both the accumulation of inflammatory exudate and the migration of leukocytes into the exudate. And although prostaglandin E2 levels in the exudate were lowered to the same extent by treatment with indomethacin and dexamethasone, inhibition of both exudate accumulation and leukocyte migration was more pronounced after treatment with dexamethasone. The differences in the effectiveness of indomethacin and dexamethasone in terms of inhibition of arachidonate metabolism in the allergic air pouch inflammation are discussed.