The Antithrombotic Effect of Potent Bifunctional Thrombin Inhibitors Based on Hirudin Sequence, P551 and P532, on He-Ne Laser-Induced Thrombosis in Rat Mesenteric Microvessels

Abstract

The antithrombotic effect of potent synthetic bifunctional non-substrate type thrombin inhibitors based on hirudin sequences, P551 and P532, on Helium-Neon laser-induced thrombosis was investigated in rat mesenteric microvessels and compared with other types of thrombin inhibitors. P551 and P532, when given intravenously, inhibited platelet-rich thrombus formation in both arterioles and venules in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect was maximal immediately after intravenous administration and persisted for 20–30 minutes in both arterioles and venules. The minimal effective doses of P551 and P532 were 1.0 mg/kg (intravenously) in both. However, the time course of the antithrombotic effect was not in keeping with the inhibitory effect measured by an activated partial thromboplastin time and was similar to other types of inhibitors in spite of different half-lives. The current findings show that P551 and P532 had significant inhibitory effects on platelet-rich thrombus formation and suggest that these bifunctional thrombin inhibitors could be potent antithrombotic agents.