Distribution and blood penetration of hirudin in various organs and tissues of rabbits with carotid artery injury
Pharmacokinetic study published in Journal of Analytical Methods in Chemistry (2025)
Abstract
Background: Hirudin is a major active ingredient of the traditional Chinese medicine leech. It has been proved to have good antithrombotic and anticoagulant effects. Objective: To determine the tissue distribution of hirudin and its pharmacokinetics in vivo by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Methods: A total of 21 SPF adult New Zealand rabbits were acclimatized for 1 week, and one was randomly selected as a blank control, while the remaining 18 were randomized to the control group and the model group. The heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, brain, plasma, blood vessels, and colon tissues were taken by execution at 1, 3, and 6 h. The samples were assayed using the natural hirudin standard as an external standard. Results: The established UPLC-MS/MS method with good precision, accuracy, recovery, and stability of hirudin proved to be reliable. The correlation between different concentrations of natural hirudin standard and the response value was R 2 ≥ 0.9997. The results of the distribution of various tissues showed that hirudin in the two groups had the highest content in plasma and blood vessels, followed by spleen, lung, and liver tissues, and was weaker in the brain and the heart, and the content of hirudin in the control group was higher than that of the model group, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: The absorption and metabolism of hirudin in rabbits with carotid artery injury mainly acted through vascular tissues and blood, and normal rabbits mainly metabolized it through spleen, lung, and liver.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Ultrasensitive UPLC-MS/MS analytical method quantifying hirudin in rabbit organs after carotid injury. Maps tissue distribution and blood-organ penetration kinetics.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
This study determined the tissue distribution and pharmacokinetics of hirudin in 21 New Zealand rabbits with carotid artery injury versus normal controls using a validated UPLC-MS/MS method, analyzing heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, brain, plasma, blood vessels, and colon tissues at 1, 3, and 6 hours. In both groups, hirudin content was highest in plasma and blood vessels, followed by spleen, lung, and liver, with weaker presence in brain and heart; the control group showed significantly higher hirudin content than the model group, and the authors concluded that hirudin in carotid artery-injured rabbits primarily acts through vascular tissues and blood. This is directly relevant to ASH as it maps hirudin biodistribution in vivo, providing pharmacokinetic data that informs understanding of hirudin's tissue-targeting properties. The caveat is that this is an animal study in a specific carotid artery injury model, and the pharmacokinetic profile may differ from that in humans undergoing hirudotherapy.
Citación
Distribution and blood penetration of hirudin in various organs and tissues of rabbits with carotid artery injury.
Feng Y et al. · Journal of analytical methods in chemistry, 2025
Contexto clínico relacionado
Explore cómo esta investigación se conecta con la práctica clínica
Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026