thromboplastin and Leukopenia

Changes in the plasma thrombomodulin (TM) level were examined in endotoxin-infused rabbits. The plasma TM level in normal rabbits was 143.8 +/- 8.4 ng/ml (n = 67) and the molecular weight of the major TM was about 55 kd. Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS, E. Coli B8:0127) was intravenously infused. LPS infusion increased the plasma TM level dose-dependently between 0.2 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg. When 5 mg/kg LPS was infused, the plasma TM level started to increase immediately and was 2.3 times higher than the control value within 1 hr. The molecular weight of the major TM was about 75 kd. This rapid increase in TM occurred before the decrease in fibrinogen content and the prolongation of prothrombin time. To examine the effect of circulating leukocytes on the TM increase in endotoxin-infused rabbits, 5 mg/kg LPS was infused into rabbits with leukocytopenia induced by X-ray irradiation. The maximum plasma level of TM was significantly lower than in the untreated rabbits given LPS. These data suggest that the increase in plasma TM is caused by LPS-stimulated leukocyte's prior to hemostaseological changes. It is well known that endothelial cells can be injured by stimulated leukocytes, so this increase in plasma TM probably reflects the deterioration of endothelial cells. This deterioration decreases the ability of endothelial cells to inhibit thrombosis, which would, in turn, contribute to the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation in endotoxin-infused rabbits.

Topics: Animals; Blood Component Transfusion; Blotting, Western; Endotoxins; Hemostasis; Infusions, Intravenous; Leukopenia; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; Rabbits; Receptors, Cell Surface; Receptors, Thrombin; Thromboplastin

Venous thrombosis was induced by ligature of the inferior vena cava in rats whose blood was made hypercoagulable by intravenous (IV) administration of tissue thromboplastin. From a dose-response showing that the administration of increasing doses of tissue thromboplastin resulted in a subsequent progressive increase of thrombus weight, two concentrations of tissue thromboplastin were chosen: a high dose (550 microL/kg, IV) where thrombus formation was optimal and a concentration (7 microL/kg, IV) where tissue thromboplastin-hypercoagulability was intermediate. In both experimental conditions, leukopenia provoked by a myelotoxic drug did not influence the development of venous thrombosis. However, after thrombocytopenia induced by an antiplatelet antiserum, a dramatic decrease in thrombus formation was observed in animals that had been pre-challenged with the lower dose of tissue thromboplastin, whereas decrease in platelet count did not affect venous thrombosis under high thrombogenic challenge. When administered orally 2 hours before thrombosis induction, the ticlopidine analogue clopidogrel showed dose-dependent inhibition of thrombus formation in animals that were pre-challenged with a low dose of tissue thromboplastin (ED50 = 7.9 +/- 1.5 mg/kg, orally) but remained ineffective against high tissue thromboplastin-induced venous thrombosis. We further determined the effect of heparin and hirudin, and showed that both of these drugs exhibited a more potent antithrombotic activity after injection of the lower dose of tissue thromboplastin than after injection of a high dose of tissue thromboplastin. Therefore, using our model of stasis and hypercoagulability, platelet activation played a major role in the development of venous thrombosis when the thrombogenitic stimulus was mild.

Topics: Animals; Blood Platelets; Clopidogrel; Disease Models, Animal; Heparin; Hirudins; Leukopenia; Male; Mechlorethamine; Partial Thromboplastin Time; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Rabbits; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Thrombocytopenia; Thrombophlebitis; Thromboplastin; Ticlopidine

Topics: Animals; Endotoxins; Escherichia coli; Leukocytes; Leukopenia; Male; Rabbits; Thromboplastin

Intravascular coagulation was induced by two appropriately spaced doses of endotoxin and by infusion of thromboplastin. The resulting fibrin deposition was measured by a previously described quantitative technique. Evidence of thrombin elaboration was obtained indirectly by measurement of fibrin monomer (FM) and by the detection and isolation of a thrombin-induced anticlotting activity. Venous segments were isolated at intervals and examined for thrombus formation following 40 minutes of stasis. Endotoxin triggered thrombin elaboration was not detectable in the circulation for at least one hour and was not accompanied by any thrombosis in isolated venous segments. No thrombin elaboration was found in leukopenic rabbits given endotoxin. In the thromboplastin infused animals, the quantity of fibrin deposited in the organs was comparable to that found after endotoxin. However, thrombin was found in the blood immediately and was associated with thrombosis in the isolatet venous segments. Less thrombin-induced anticoagulant activity was found after thromboplastin than after endotoxin. The findings suggest that endotoxin-induced intravascular coagulation is probably not caused by a mechanism of systemic hypercoagulability due to the release of thromboplastic material into the blood stream. A focal process of thrombin elaboration involving leukocytes is postulated. The study is believed relevant to patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation in whom venous thromboembolism is rarely found despite evidence of extensive microvascular fibrin deposition.

Topics: Animals; Blood Coagulation Disorders; Blood Vessels; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation; Endotoxins; Fibrin; Fibrinogen; Leukocytes; Leukopenia; Mechlorethamine; Rabbits; Thrombin; Thromboplastin