The rat C-reactive protein--isolation and response to experimental inflammation and tissue damage.

A new isolation procedure of rat C-reactive protein (CRP) by affinity chromatography on amino-coupled phosphorylcolamine-Sepharose is described. CRP serum level of rats injured by turpentine injection or two different arthritis models was determined to test the potency of this protein as an marker of inflammation. The influence of repeated administration of carbon tetrachloride as a hepatotoxic agent was investigated in the same way. It was shown that CRP determination is a useful method to observe the course of experimental inflammations and other tissue injuries as well.