Experimental model of venous thrombosis in rats and effect of some agents

Abstract

An experimental model of venous thrombosis was produced in rats by insertion of a stainless steel wire coil into the inferior vena cava. The thrombus was developed onto the wire and the endothelium of the vein wall with the maximum size at 2–3 days after the wire insertion and persisted for more than 10 days with gradual thrombolysis and organization. At the early stage, the thrombus was composed of platelets, red blood cells and some fibrin. It grew up to the fibrinous structure with enmeshed blood cells and then underwent organization. Development of thrombosis was accompanied by reduction of the fibrinolytic activity at the initial phase and by decrease in platelet counts and increase in partial thromboplastin time at the early and progression phases. Thrombus formation was effectively inhibited by heparin, ticlopidine and bisobrin, but it was not affected by aspirin and tranexamic acid. The present procedures, together with simple quantification of thrombus size, gave a reproducible result and provided a tool for screening or evaluating of anti-thrombotic and thrombolytic agents in a routine study.