Animal Models for Inflammation:A Review

Inflammation is reaction of living tissues towards injury, and comprises systemic and local responses. Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli as well as initiate the healing process for the tissue. The nature of the inflammatory response following tissue injury depends upon both the time elapsed since injury as well as the extent of tissue damage. Inflammation can be classified as either acute or chronic. Acute inflammation is usually of short duration and sudden onset. The typical sequence of events is an initial transient arteriolar constriction followed by vasodilation, increased vascular endothelial permeability, exudation of fluid and plasma proteins, and transmigration of leukocytes from vessels into the injured tissues. Chronic inflammation can begin 2-4 days after the onset of the acute response. Chronic inflammation on the contrary is granuloma formation. Inflammation research involves a number of experimental models to study the anti-inflammatory activity. The anti-inflammatory agents exert their effect through a spectrum of different modes of action. The anti-inflammatory activity of new substances can be evaluated by using various pre clinical screening method. Use of various phlogestic agent like carragenan, brewer's yeast, dextran, egg albumin, kaolin, aerosil, croton oil, and cotton wool inflammation is induced and the amount of decrease in its inducing characteristics is measured.