Effects of Preoperative Glycyrrhizin Infusion for the Prevention of Venous Thrombosis on the Tissue Expression of Antithrombin in a Rat Model

Abstract

Objective: Using a thrombus model prepared by ligation of the inferior vena cava (IVC), the influences of the glycoside, glycyrrhizin, on plasma antithrombin levels and antithrombin mRNA expression levels in the liver and IVC with the inhibition of venous thrombosis were investigated.

Materials and methods: The rat IVC was exposed and ligated for 24 h immediately after the intravenous administration of 300 mg/kg glycyrrhizin. Among antithrombotic drugs, the Xa inhibitor, fondaparinux sodium, was used as a control drug.

Results: The mean thrombus weight was significantly smaller in the glycyrrhizin-treated group (18.3 mg) than in the saline-treated group (34.3 mg). In contrast, the inhibition of thrombosis was not observed in the fondaparinux-treated group. Antithrombin mRNA expression levels in the liver were significantly higher in the ligated groups than in the baseline control group. The mean plasma antithrombin level was significantly lower in the glycyrrhizin group (96.6%) than in the saline group (114.4%), but was not significantly different from that in the baseline control group (102.4%).

Conclusion: The pretreatment with glycyrrhizin inhibited venous thrombosis, and antithrombin mRNA expression levels in the liver and IVC as well as plasma antithrombin levels were significantly lower than those in the saline group.

Keywords: DVT; antithrombin; glycyrrhizin.

Fig. 1

(A) Comparison of effects of glycyrrhizin (n = 7) and saline (n = 7) on plasma concentrations of antithrombin; ^*P = 0.01, No. of baseline control rats (n = 7). (B) Comparison of effects of fondaparinux (n = 7) and saline (n = 6) on the plasma concentration of antithrombin; No. of baseline control rats (n = 7). ^*1 P = 0.0053; ^*2 P = 0.0298.

Fig. 2

Relative ratios of antithrombin mRNA expression in the liver among baseline control (n = 5), saline-treated (n = 6), and glycyrrhizin-treated rats (n = 7); ^*1 P = 0.0062; ^*2 P = 0.0027; ^*3 P = 0.0045.

Fig. 3

Relative ratios of antithrombin mRNA expression in the liver among baseline control (n = 4), saline-treated (n = 6), and fondaparinux-treated rats (n = 7); ^*1 P = 0.011; ^*2 P = 0.008.

Fig. 4

Relative ratios of antithrombin mRNA expression in the IVC vein wall among baseline control (n = 5), saline-treated (n = 6), and glycyrrhizin-treated rats (n = 7). ^*1 P = 0.044; ^*2 P = 0.032. IVC: inferior vena cava

Fig. 5

Relative ratios of antithrombin mRNA expression in the IVC vein wall among baseline control (n = 4), saline-treated (n = 6), and fondaparinux-treated rats (n = 7). ^*1 P = 0.011; ^*2 P = 0.008. IVC: inferior vena cava