A CANINE CORONARY-ARTERY THROMBOSIS MODEL - APPLICATION OF PHOTOCHEMICALLY INDUCED THROMBOSIS

A simple and reproducible canine model of platelet-rich coronary arter y thrombosis, suitable for the evaluation of antithrombotic drugs, has been developed. In this model, thrombus was initiated in the left art erial descending coronary artery by means of transmural green light (5 40 nm) in the presence of i.v. administered rose bengal (a photosensit izer dye). The photochemical reaction between green light and rose ben gal causes endothelial injury which is followed by platelet adhesion a ggregation and formation of an occlusive platelet-rich thrombus at the site of the photochemical reaction. In 9 out of 12 animals, occlusion of the coronary artery occurred within 60 min after irradiation with green light and infusion of rose bengal. Infusion of tissue-type plasm inogen activator (50,000 IU/kg) produced thrombolysis in 6 out 9 anima ls within 60 min. Reocclusion was observed in 4 of these 6 animals. Ph otochemically induced thrombosis in the canine coronary artery provide s a simple and platelet-rich thrombosis model suitable for the evaluat ion of antithrombotic and thrombolytic preparations.