A Selective Thrombin Inhibitor Prevents Thrombin-Induced Neuronal Cell Death and Mild Hypothermia Enhances its Neuroprotective Effects Following Transient Focal lschemia in Rats

Thrombin is a multifunctional serine protease that has important roles in blood coagulation, the activation of platelets and the cleavage of fibrinogen to fibrin after ischemia. Recently, thrombin has been reported to induce apoptosis in neurons and astrocytes via activation of the thrombin receptor[1].The aim of this study is, therefore, to determine whether a selective thrombin inhibitor, Argatroban, would prevent neuronal cell death, especially thrombin-induced apoptotic cell death, and whether extra-mild hypothermia (35°C) would enhance the neuroprotective effect of a selective thrombin inhibitor following transient focal ischemia in rats.