Disease modifying effects of N-butyryl glucosamine in a streptococcal cell wall induced arthritis model in rats.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of different doses of N-butyryl glucosamine (GlcNBu) on joint preservation and subchondral bone density and quality in a streptococcal cell wall (SCW) induced arthritis model in Lewis rats.

Methods: Chronic arthritis was induced in 36 female Lewis rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of SCW antigen. The 4 groups studied were: (1) no arthritis, no drug treatment; (2) arthritis, no drug treatment; (3) arthritis, oral GlcNBu 20 mg/kg/day; and (4) arthritis, oral GlcNBu 200 mg/kg/day.

A spontaneous recurrent seizure bioassay for anti-epileptogenic molecules.

Drug design in epilepsy is now tackling a new target--epileptogenesis. This is the process whereby a normal brain becomes susceptible to recurrent seizures. One of the stumbling blocks in the design and discovery of new chemical entities as antiepileptogenics is the implementation of an appropriate biological model.

Implementing a bioassay to screen molecules for antiepileptogenic activity: chronic pilocarpine versus subdudral haematoma models.

Background: There is a need to discover novel chemical compounds that will inhibit the pathological process of epileptogenesis (i.e. agents that will prevent the long-term formation of an active seizure focus following a brain insult).