EFFECT OF COLLAGEN INDUCED ARTHRITIS ON ANTISTREPTOLYSIN TEST IN THE WHITE LABORATORY RAT

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a serious health challenge as a disease with serious health consequences and
the potential to result in permanent disability. Most of the authors state that the reason for the occurrence of the
disease and its persistence is multifactorial, but above all it is a genetic predisposition as a result of the disruption of
the control mechanisms of the immune system. The disease can occur at any age, but it is most common in patients
over sixty years of age who suffer from damage to the joints, resulting in impaired locomotion, reduced work
capacity, unproductive and poor quality of life. Animal models in RA disease research are useful for studying and
evaluating the effect of potential antiarthritic drugs. The study of the disease in animal models provides useful
information about rheumatoid diseases and RA in humans because of the great similarity in their onset and
development.
Our research aimed to see how collagen type-II induced arthritis would cause an effect on the immune system and
inter alia on ASTO in Wistar rats of both sexes, on the thirtieth and sixtieth days of immunization. ASTO is also
used to diagnose RA secondary to streptococcal infections. Wistar rats, healthy seven-week-old male and female
animals, bred according to standard conditions for experimental animals at the laboratory animal farm at PMFSkopje
were used for the research. The experimental animals were divided into four groups; control group of male
animals (n=20), control group of female animals (n=20), experimental group of male animals (n=30), which were
treated with collagen type-II and experimental group of female animals (n=30), which were also treated with
collagen. Analyzes of aliquots were performed on the thirtieth and sixtieth day of the test. We apply the highly
purified collagen type-II according to a defined protocol in the joint of the back right leg. We took blood for analysis
on the thirtieth and sixtieth day after immunization. The ASTO samples were tested on the computerized and
thermostated Mini NEF TM Duinding Fait apparatus. The principle of the method is based on the fact that
pathogenic beta-hemolytic streptococci of group A produce streptolysin O, which stimulate the body to produce
antistreptolysin. A titer greater than 1/200 is a positive value. From the studies that were done on the influence of
collagen induced arthritis type-II on the value of ASTO in both sexes of animals, in both experimental periods, it can
be concluded that they are within the limits of normal values in all groups and in both sexes. All were <59,430
IU/ml. In general, these studies of RA performed in animal models provide a good parallel for the course and
development of RA in the human population.