American Society of Hirudotherapy

Acceleration of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator-induced reperfusion and prevention of reocclusion by recombinant antistasin, a selective factor Xa inhibitor, in a canine model of femoral arterial thrombosis

Research article published in Circulation research (1992)

Last Updated: June 18, 2026Reviewed by: ASH Editorial Board
Research article — evidence reviewArticle reference
Evidence: Observational studyDrug DevelopmentMellott MJ et al. · Circulation research, 1992

Abstract

Antistasin is a 119-amino acid protein initially isolated from salivary glands of the Mexican leech, Haementeria officinalis, that exhibits potent anticoagulant properties resulting from selective inhibition of blood coagulation factor Xa. The comparative antithrombotic efficacies of recombinant antistasin (rATS), standard heparin (Hep), and aspirin (ASA) administered adjunctly with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) on thrombolytic reperfusion and reocclusion were determined in a canine model of femoral arterial thrombosis. An occlusive thrombus was formed by insertion of a thrombogenic copper coil into the femoral artery, and blood flow velocity was monitored directly and continuously by Doppler flowmetry. Sixty minutes after occlusion, dogs received an intravenous infusion of either saline (vehicle) or rATS (0.31, 1.25, or 2.5 micrograms/kg/min), intravenous boluses of Hep (100 units/kg + 50 units/kg/hr or 200 units/kg + 150 units/kg/hr), or a single intravenous bolus of ASA (2.0 mg/kg), followed 45 minutes later by tPA (0.8 mg/kg i.v. over 90 minutes). The saline and rATS infusions were discontinued 60 minutes after termination of tPA, and the last Hep boluses were given 105 minutes after termination of tPA. All dogs achieved reperfusion. The time to reperfusion in the ASA group was similar to that in the vehicle group (50 +/- 9 versus 50 +/- 6 minutes, respectively). Reperfusion times were slightly decreased by the low and high doses of Hep (34 +/- 6 and 31 +/- 4 minutes, respectively) and the rATS doses of 0.31 and 1.25 micrograms/kg/min (37 +/- 4 and 36 +/- 5 minutes, respectively). However, the time to reperfusion was dramatically reduced with the 2.5 micrograms/kg/min rATS dose (15 +/- 3 minutes, p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Publication typeComparative StudyJournal Article
Indexed MeSH termsAnimalsAnticoagulantsAspirinBleeding TimeDogsFactor Xa InhibitorsFemaleFemoral ArteryInvertebrate HormonesLeechesMalePartial Thromboplastin Time

Summary

Acceleration of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator-induced reperfusion and prevention of reocclusion by recombinant antistasin, a selective factor Xa inhibitor, in a canine model of femoral arterial thrombosis.

Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy

This comparative animal study evaluated recombinant antistasin (rATS)—a factor Xa inhibitor initially isolated from the Mexican leech Haementeria officinalis—against heparin and aspirin as adjuncts to tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in a canine femoral arterial thrombosis model. All groups achieved reperfusion; the highest rATS dose (2.5 µg/kg/min) dramatically reduced time to reperfusion (15 ± 3 min, p < 0.05) compared with vehicle (50 ± 6 min), while lower rATS doses and heparin slightly decreased reperfusion times and aspirin showed results similar to vehicle. This is relevant to ASH as a preclinical test of a leech-derived anticoagulant. Caveat: the study is in dogs, involves a recombinant leech protein rather than hirudotherapy, and the abstract is truncated before full results on reocclusion and bleeding.

Citation

Acceleration of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator-induced reperfusion and prevention of reocclusion by recombinant antistasin, a selective factor Xa inhibitor, in a canine model of femoral arterial thrombosis

Mellott MJ et al. · Circulation research, 1992

Added to ASH library: May 27, 2026 · Site last updated: June 18, 2026

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