Carrageenin-induced thrombosis in the rat and mouse as a test model of substances influencing thrombosis.

Kappa-carrageenins cause disseminated intravascular coagulation with thrombosis of the tail in rats and mice. Frequency and extent of tail thrombosis were used for determining antithrombotic effects after systemic and local external administration of substances. Inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and thromboxane synthetase caused irregular inhibition of thrombosis after relatively high doses. The cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitor BW755C was ineffective after 50 mg/kg. Hitherto, no effective substances could be found after external administration on the tail of mice. At present, no convincing explanation for thrombogenic activity of kappa-carrageenin can be given. The advantages of the thrombosis model are discussed.