title: Antithrombotic actions of aspirin in the horse.
abstract: The antithrombotic effects of aspirin at two dose rates (4 mg/kg and 11 mg/kg bodyweight [bwt] were evaluated in normal, healthy ponies by measuring template bleeding time. Inhibition of platelet aggregation in response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and collagen was evaluated and cyclo-oxygenase activity was monitored by radioimmunoassay of thromboxane B2 (TXB2), the stable metabolite of thromboxane A2 (TXA2). TXB2 was measured in serum and platelet rich plasma. Bleeding time was prolonged significantly until 48 h after treatment at 12 mg/kg bwt and until 4 h at the lower dose rate. Synthesis of TXB2 and collagen induced aggregation were diminished for much greater periods with similar results at each of the dose rates. The prolonged effects of aspirin on platelet function occurred in spite of a very short plasma half-life of aspirin, because of its irreversible action on platelet cyclo-oxygenase. The results show that low dose aspirin has a potential role in antithrombotic therapy in horses although the relationship between skin bleeding time in normal horses and improvement of clinical conditions requires further research and evaluation in clinical trials. TXB2 measurement appears to overestimate the duration of antithrombotic effects of aspirin in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, UK.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cambridge
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hooke
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001760:Bleeding Time / Q000662:veterinary; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000032:analysis; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013929:Thromboxane B2; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D003094:Collagen; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D001241:Aspirin