On the nature of anticoagulant action of rare-earth metals

(Report 2)

Abstract

The amount of the chlorides of La, Ce, Pr and Nd required for the moderate anticoagulant action on rabbits was 20 mg/kg. In each experiment with a single injection there was no change noticeable as to the action on the whole body and/or on the heart and liver functions, while the transitory decrease of blood pressure was often observed. The repeated admidistration of the same dose over three days caused, however, the liver disorder and finally killed the rabbit. The histological investigations revealed the intense damages concentrated around Vena centralis media with hemorrhages and the necrosis as well as the fatty infiltrations near the Glisson's capsula, which coincided with that in the case of Dicumarol. From the results of Report 1 and 2 it appears that the rare-earth metal salts are of value clinically as to the prophylaxis and theraby for the embolism and thrombosis, but there is some different points from Dicumarol, in which the former acts immediately after its administration and its action disappears within a shorter time than the latter.