INFLUENCE OF CADMIUM INTOXICATION ON THROMBORESISTANCE OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIUM IN RABBITS

Here, using our original technique for measuring of thrombogenesis on the surface of rabbit aorta endothelium superfused with whole blood, w e demonstrate that the thrombogenic property of endothelium is potenti ated in the course of 3 months cadmium intoxication. The loss of endot helial thromboresistance is accompanied by suppressed generation of en dogenous prostacyclin, leukopenia, increased platelet aggregability an d by the presence of quasi-atherosclerotic, focal proliferative, glass y-protein lesions formed in aortic endothelium. We hypothesize that th e final loss of vessel thromboresistance with all sequence of events t hat accompany cadmium intoxication, may result from the cadmium-induce d inhibition of the generation of endothelial prostacyclin. However, t he exact mechanism by which cadmium intoxication may affect the genera tion of prostacyclin and, then, functioning of blood platelets and vas cular endothelium requires further investigations.