Induction of an Acute Phase Response in Rabbits by Dermal Irritation and Stanchion Restraint: Implications to Toxicology Testing

An acute phase response, as evidenced by increased serum haptoglobin levels, occurred in association with the experimental conditions used to induce dermal irritation in the rabbit with bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide (sulfur mustard). All treatment animals were restrained in stanchions for 24 h following dermal exposure to sulfur mustard. The serum haptoglobin concentrations of treated rabbits 24 h postexposure were two to three times pre-exposure levels and significantly different (p < 0.05) from the mean reference value for rabbit haptoglobin. However, the serum haptoglobin concentrations of control rabbits 24 h following stanchion restraint were also significantly higher (p < 0.05) than predose values and the reference range determined for weight- and sex-matched rabbits. The data from this study suggest that the acute phase response induced by the treatment conditions resulted from a combination of irritant-induced inflammation and the stress of stanchion restraint.