We reported that experimental disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) could be induced by a 4-hr sustained infusion of endotoxin (100mg/kg) in rats. This experimental DIC was used to study the effects of defibrinogenation with batroxobin against DIC. One hour before the infusion of endotoxin, 200 batroxobin unit (BU)/kg of batroxobin was injected intraperitoneally. Immediately after the injection, fibrinogen level markedly decreased and fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products increased. The preventive effect against DIC was noted by the partial inhibition of the fall in the platelet counts and lessened number of renal glomeruli with fibrin thrombi, in the rats treated with 200BU/kg of batroxobin 1hr before the infusion of endotoxin (100mg/kg/4hr). From these results, it was shown that fibrinogen metabolism plays an important role in the DIC state.
