Rat Collagen-induced Arthritis (CIA)

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Rat CIA can be induced by immunization of type II collagen (Porcine or Bovine) emulsified with Incomplete adjuvant (IFA). The injection can be SC injection with a dose of 100 ug collagen in 100 ul of IFA at the base of the tail. Arthritis starts to develop on day 14-21.

There are two protocols.

  1. A single immunization method (Day 0 only)
  2. A booster injection method (Day 0 and Day 7)

Evaluation of arthritis can be by the following methods.

  1. Scoring (1)

0 – Normal

1 – Mild redness and swelling of the ankle or wrist, or individual digits.

2 – Moderate redness and swelling of ankle or wrist or individual digits.

3 – Severe redness and swelling of the entire paw including digits

4 – Maximally inflamed limb with involvement of multiple joints


  1. Paw volume (2).

Place a beaker containing a 10% soap solution and make the balance to zero.

Immerse the limb in the solution to the level of the anatomical hair line.

After retracting the paw, the container is weighed, subtracted from the start weight.

1. R. H. Nielsen, C. Christiansen, M. Stolina, M. A. Karsdal, Oestrogen exhibits type II collagen protective effects and attenuates collagen-induced arthritis in rats. Clinical & Experimental Immunology. 152, 21–27 (2008).


2. K. D. Madhu, J. Harindran, Antiarthritic potential of Ocimum gratissimum L. in collagen induced arthritic Sprague-Dawley rats. Biomedicine & Aging Pathology. 4, 191–196 (2014).


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