title: Argatroban administration reduces leukocyte adhesion and improves capillary perfusion within the intestinal microcirculation in experimental sepsis.
abstract: Co-activation of pro-coagulatory pathways in sepsis may result in disseminated intravascular coagulation and contributes to microvascular dysfunction. We investigated the effects of the direct thrombin inhibitor, argatroban (ARG), on the sepsis-induced impairment of the intestinal microcirculation (capillary perfusion, leukocyte adhesion) and the vascular contractility in rats. Forty male Lewis rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups: sham surgery (SHAM), experimental sepsis (colon ascendens stent peritonitis--CASP), CASP+ARG, and SHAM+ARG. At 16 hours after colon stent insertion (or sham surgery), 2 mg/kg argatroban or buffer were given intravenously, and 1 hour thereafter, intravital microscopy was performed. In addition, experiments to study the impact of ARG on vascular contractility were conducted in vitro . ARG administration in CASP rats significantly increased functional capillary density in mucosal (+128%) and muscular layers (longitudinal: +42%; circular: +64%) and decreased the number of firmly adhering leukocytes in the intestinal submucosa compared to untreated animals. In vitro findings indicated a vasodilating effect of ARG. ARG administration during experimental sepsis improved intestinal microcirculation by preserving functional capillary density, an indicator of microvascular perfusion, and by reducing leukocyte adherence to the endothelium in submucosal venules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ladwig
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pavlovic
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Behrend
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Whynot
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cerny
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lehmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D009213:Myography; D010875:Pipecolic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013997:Time Factors; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010875:Pipecolic Acids; D013449:Sulfonamides; D001120:Arginine; C031942:argatroban