The inhibition of adjuvant disease in rats by the interferon‐inducing agent pyran copolymer

Abstract

Abstract The effect of pyran copolymer, a synthetic polyanionic interferon inducer, was studied in adjuvant‐induced disease in rats. This agent was shown to induce interferon in Sprague‐Dawley and CD®F rats and to inhibit adjuvant‐induced arthritis in both species of rats. Splenomegaly was inhibited in CD®F rats. Based on the time at which single injections were most effective, pyran did not seem to have an antiinflammatory effect and its action was different from antilymphocyte serum. These data open the question of the role of a virus or virus‐like microorganism in the pathogenesis of adjuvant disease. A hypothesis reconciling immune participation in this disease with the role of a possible infectious agent is presented.