Type II collagen induced arthritis: comparison of histological changes in arthritis-susceptible and arthritis-resistant rats.

Wistar rats (type II collagen-induced arthritis-susceptible) and PVG.RT1u rats (arthritis-resistant) were immunised with type II collagen and histological changes in the synovial tissues of the hind feet and in the popliteal lymph nodes draining these feet were examined and compared with unimmunised rats. There were no apparent differences in the joints of unimmunised rats of each strain, but the popliteal lymph nodes of the Wistar rats appeared more "activated", suggesting possible differences between strains in the continuous, low-grade release of antigens from the joints.