Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the effect of dressing-pretreatment on forepart inflammation in adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats.MethodsAA model was established by subcutaneous injection of Freund's complete adjuvant into the right hind-paw (0.1 ml/animal). 24 Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, model group and dressing-pretreatment groups. In dressing-pretreatment group, "Dazhui" (GV14) was applied by a kind of dressing invented by the researchers. The foot swelling rate, serum concentrations of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6 and tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α) were assessed.ResultsCompared with the control group, the foot swelling rate and serum concentrations of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α of the model group and dressing-pretreatment group increased significantly (P<0.01); but the foot swelling rate and serum concentrations of IL-1 and IL-6 in dressing-pretreatment group decreased significantly compared with those of the model group (P<0.05～0.01), and there was a downtrend in TNF-α. HE stain showed soakage of phlogistic cell in cartilage and arthritis membrane, hyperplasia of vein and breakage of cartilage were better in dressing-pretreatment group compared with that in the model group.ConclusionDressing-pretreatment can decrease forepart inflammation and pathological damage of arthritis in AA rats, and can prevent the harm of consequent disease to some extent.

Key words: pretreatment, Chinese Traditional Medicine dressing, adjuvant arthritis, Dazhui point