THYMUS AND INFLAMMATION

Abstract

SUMMARY: The reversal of cortisone action on formaldehyde arthritis reported by Csaba, Törő, Horváth, Ács & Mold (1962) after thymectomy in the rat did not occur using either the cotton pellet, the granuloma pouch or the acute paw-oedema procedures. Thymectomy alone caused a reduction of inflammation in both the cotton pellet and the granuloma pouch methods but had no effect on acute formaldehyde-induced paw-oedema. It is concluded that the thymus is not essential for the anti-inflammatory activity of cortisone.