Axis Bio provide a range of acute inflammation models that produce rapid results and are frequently used to screen anti-inflammatory compounds.

• Paw Edema: Animals are injected with the irritant carrageenan (1%) in one hind paw (and saline in the other to provide animal-specific control data). Paw thickness increases rapidly following carrageenan injection (within 1-2h) and is generally measured to 24h post-induction. In addition to paw thickness measurements, post-study cytokine and histology assessment of tissue can be made.
• Ear edema: The ear edema model in mice provides a sensitive, reliable test for topically applied anti-inflammatory agents. Typically, oxazolone or DNFB is applied to the ear and inflammation rapidly develops leading to 2-4-fold increase in ear volume within 24h. T-cell infiltration follows after a further 24-48h.  In addition to ear volume measurements, cytokine and histology assessments of tissue can be carried out.

• Air Pouch: Subcutaneous injection of sterile air into the intra-scapular region on the back of a mouse followed by injection of an irritant (e.g. carrageenan) results in an increased exudate which contains infiltrated cells and mediators of inflammation (e.g. cytokines). The cells and markers can be easily collected, quantified and compared to determine anti-inflammatory activity of test agents.