Adaptation of a photochemical method to initiate recurrent platelet-mediated thrombosis in small animals.

Platelet-mediated thrombosis represents the initial precipitating event in the genesis of unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, and stroke. As a result, there is considerable interest in the preclinical discovery and screening of new 'anti-platelet' therapies aimed at limiting the incidence and reoccurrence of arterial thrombosis-efforts that, to date, have largely required the use of large animal models of thrombotic occlusion. In the current report, we describe the successful development of a small-animal (rat) model of spontaneous and recurrent platelet-mediated arterial thrombosis achieved by the in vivo administration of a photoactive dye (rose bengal) followed by focal illumination with green laser light.