Antiaggregatory effects of thromboxane receptor antagonists in vivo.

The antiaggregatory and antisecretory effects of two newly developed thromboxane receptor antagonists, BM-13,177 and SQ-29,548, were studied in an in vivo model of platelet activation. Arterial platelet count and whole blood ATP concentrations were measured continuously on-line in the arterial blood of anesthetized rabbits. Injections of collagen decreased peripheral platelet count by 25% of initial value. ATP concentrations increased 50 to 100 nM during collagen challenge. SQ-29,548 and BM-13,177 dose-dependently reduced platelet loss to about 50% of that observed in vehicle treated animals. Injection of arachidonic acid (AA) or 9,11-methanoepoxy-PGH2 resulted in sudden death of the animals associated with a 67 to 69% decrease in platelet count and a marked release of ATP. Pretreatment with SQ-29,548 or BM-13,177 increased survival rates from 0 to 100%, and reduced or totally inhibited ATP secretion and decreases in platelet count. In contrast, the thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, dazoxiben, was effective in inhibiting AA induced sudden death, but was without any effect when 9,11-methanoepoxy-PGH2 was used as the challenging agent. We conclude that SQ-29,548 and BM-13,177 are effective in antagonizing the effects of subsequent conversion to thromboxane A2. BM-13,177 and SQ-29,548 are generally considered as specific antagonists of endoperoxide/thromboxane receptors on platelets and smooth muscles in vitro. Preliminary clinical studies with BM-13,177 showed a marked inhibition of ex vivo platelet aggregation in human volunteers and patients (18, 19). These reports encourage further study of thromboxane receptor antagonists as effective anti-thrombotic drugs in the experimental and clinical setting.