Pristane-induced arthritis in Balb/c mice. I. Clinical and histological features of the arthropathy.

Intraperitoneal injection of pristane induced a clinical peripheral arthritis and/or tenosynovitis in 40% of 40 Balb/cJ/Ola mice. Hind paws were always affected first and fore paws were frequently involved. Involvement of knee joints was only apparent histologically. Some clinically unaffected animals and apparently uninvolved joints from arthritic mice were also shown to have a synovitis histologically. The time of onset and pattern of arthritis was variable. The development of arthritis was not related to plasmacytoma or ascites induction, which occurred in a similar percentage of mice over a similar period. The earliest change was synoviocyte hyperplasia and polymorphonuclear infiltration in the subintima. There was no obvious mononuclear cell infiltration. In the later stages there was erosion of cartilage and sclerosis of underlying bone. These features resemble the joint changes seen in osteoarthritis.