Enhancement of tissue factor following ischemic-reperfusion injury in rats

To evaluate the involvement of tissue factor (TF) in blood coagulation refl ecting injury of the blood vessels induced by reperfusion following ischemi c treatment in rat abdominal blood vessels in vivo, both TF expression and prothrombin time (PTT), which is used as a marker of coagulation, were meas ured after ischemic-reperfusion treatment. TF expression was significantly increased at 0 and 5 min after reperfusion following a 30 min period of ves sel ligation, while the PTT was significantly shortened at 5 and 10min. On the other hand, the change of TF expression and PTT were not detected in th e animals ligated vessel for 15 min. These results suggest that TF plays an important role in the injury after reperfusion following ischemia.