EFFECT OF DIFFERENT GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS IN A GUINEA-PIG CAROTID-ARTERYTHROMBOSIS MODEL

Heparin is the most frequently used drug for the prevention and treatm ent of thrombosis. Its use, however, is restricted by its side-effects . To study the efficacy of other glycosaminoglycans that could substit ute heparin in the management of arterial thrombosis, 60 guinea-pigs w ere randomly allocated into 6 groups: G1= control, G2= heparin (150 IU /kg), G3= heparan sulfate from beef pancreas (2.5 mg/kg), G4= heparan sulfate from beef lung (2.5 mg/kg), G5= N-acetylated heparan from beef pancreas, G6= dermatan sulfate from beef intestine (2.5 mg/kg). Ten m inutes after intravenous injection of the drugs, thrombosis was induce d by the injection of a 50% glucose solution into a segment of the rig ht carotid artery isolated between 2 thread loops during 10 minutes. T hree hours later the artery was re-exposed and if a thrombus was prese nt it was measured, withdrawn and weighed. Thrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were measured in all animals. Thrombus de veloped in 90% of the animals in the control group, 0% in G2 and G3, 6 2.5% in G4, 87.5% in G5 and G6. Only in the animals treated with hepar in the coagulation tests were prolonged. In conclusion, in the used do se only the heparan sulfate from beef pancreas presented an antithromb otic effect similar to heparin in this experimental model.