Effect of ingestion on antithrombin activity in different tissues of Whitmania pigra
Basic science / pharmacology published in Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi (2018)
Abstract
To study the effects of ingestion on antithrombin activities in different tissues of Whitmania pigra, the salivary glands, ingluvies, intestine and muscle of adult leeches were weighted on the 1st d, 3rd d, 5th d, 7th d and 11th d after feeding, respectively, and meanwhile antithrombin activity was measured by antithrombin titration method. The results showed that the antithrombin activity of salivary glands in different stages was significantly higher than that in other tissues (P<0.05). The activity of antithrombin in muscle tissue increased initially and then decreased with the prolongation of the time after feeding, and the peak was observed on the 5th day after feeding (P<0.05). The activity of antithrombin in the salivary glands, gluvies and intestine were found the highest on the 1st day after feeding(P<0.05), and then gradually decreased with the prolongation of the time of stopping the diet. The total amount of antithrombin activity on the 5th day was increased by 49.5%, 73.5%, 69.1% and 126.0% comparing with the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 11th day after feeding, respectively (P<0.05). In summary, both the feeding behavior and the food can induce the secretion of anticoagulant substances in the salivary glands and the digestive tract. The total amount of antithrombin activity was the highest on the 5th day after feeding and the 5th day after feeding was suggested as harvesting time.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Pharmacological characterization of antithrombin activity across Whitmania pigra tissues (salivary glands, ingluvies, intestine, muscle) at days 1, 3, 5, 7, 11 post-feeding. Peak total activity day 5; recommended as optimal harvesting time.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This study examined antithrombin activity in the salivary glands, ingluvies, intestine, and muscle of Whitmania pigra leeches at multiple time points after feeding. Antithrombin activity was significantly higher in salivary glands than in other tissues across stages, peaked on day 1 in salivary glands, ingluvies, and intestine, while muscle tissue activity peaked on day 5. Total antithrombin activity was highest on day 5 post-feeding, which the authors suggested as a harvesting time. This is relevant to ASH's domain as it characterizes antithrombin activity in a leech species and informs timing for collecting leech-derived anticoagulant material. The honest caveat is that this is a preclinical/animal tissue study with no clinical correlation, it does not address therapeutic outcomes of leech application, and the abstract does not specify the intended downstream use of harvested material.
Citation
Effect of ingestion on antithrombin activity in different tissues of Whitmania pigra.
Wu MJ et al. · China journal of Chinese materia medica, 2018
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