title: Tanshinone IIA protects rabbits against LPS-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), a lipophilic diterpene from the Chinese herb Salvia miltiorrhiza, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  LPS-induced DIC model was made in adult male New Zealand rabbits by continuous intravenous infusion of LPS (0.5 mg/kg) via marginal ear vein for 6 h. The animals were simultaneously administered with Tan IIA (1, 3 and 10 mg/kg) or heparin (500 000 IU/kg) through continuous infusion via the contralateral marginal ear vein for 6 h. Before and 2 and 6 h after the start of LPS infusion, blood samples were taken for biochemical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Continuous infusion of LPS into the rabbits gradually impaired the hemostatic parameters, damaged renal and liver functions, increased the plasma TNF-α level, and led to a high mortality rate (80%). Treatment of the rabbits with Tan IIA dose-dependently attenuated the increase in activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products (FDP); ameliorated the decrease in plasma levels of fibrinogen and platelets; and reversed the decline in activity of protein C and antithrombin III. Meanwhile, the treatment significantly suppressed the increase in the plasma levels of aminotransferase, creatinine and TNF-α, and led to much lower mortality (46.7% and 26.7% for the medium- and high-dose groups). Treatment of the rabbits with the high dose of heparin also effectively improved the hemostatic parameters, ameliorated liver and renal injuries, and reduced the plasma level of TNF-α, and significantly reduced the mortality (33.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tan IIA exerts a protective effect against DIC in rabbits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huangpu Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. wulc_sysu@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Liang-Cai
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010616:Phenanthrenes; C024894:tanshinone II A sodium sulfonate