Heme oxygenase-1 inducer hemin prevents vascular thrombosis

Hemin is a heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) inducer which provides endogenous carbon monoxide known for playing roles in cell proliferation,inflammation or aggregation process.The objective of the current study was to examine the effect of prophylactic treatment with hemin in a thrombosis vascular model. Three groups of Wistar rats, control (n=6), hemin (n=6) and hemin+HO-1 inhibitor (n=6), were used for this study. Hemintreated animals received hemin (50 mg/kg/d; I.P.) for seven days and HO-1 inhibitor group received hemin at the same dose and SnPP IX (60 mg/kg/d; I.P.).All animals were exposed to electric stimulation of the left carotid according to Kawasaki's procedure to induce reproducible thrombus formation.The hemin treatment did not induce blood pressure disturbance. Effects of hemin on vascular thrombosis were quantified by histopathology and its influence on haemostasis was assessed by measuring prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and blood parameters at the end of treatment. The HO-1 mRNA and protein level variation were also checked out. Results showed that chronic treatment with hemin significantly (p