A canine coronary artery thrombosis model: application of photochemically induced thrombosis.

A simple and reproducible canine model of platelet-rich coronary artery thrombosis, suitable for the evaluation of antithrombotic drugs, has been developed. In this model, thrombus was initiated in the left arterial descending coronary artery by means of transmural green light (540 nm) in the presence of i.v. administered rose bengal (a photosensitizer dye). The photochemical reaction between green light and rose bengal causes endothelial injury which is followed by platelet adhesion aggregation 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 plasminogen activator (50,000 IU/kg) produced thrombolysis in 6 out of 9 animals within 60 min. Reocclusion was observed in 4 of these 6 animals. Photochemically induced thrombosis in the canine coronary artery provides a simple and platelet-rich thrombosis model suitable for the evaluation of antithrombotic and thrombolytic preparations.