Studies on the vascular and hematological changes induced by ellagic acid in rats

We compared the major changes induced by ellagic acid (EA), a Hageman factor activator, in normal rats and in kininogen-deficient Brown Norway rats. In normal rats, large doses of EA induced a congestion of lymph nodes, spleen and liver, a prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time, the consumption of prekallikrein, high molecular weight kininogen and fibrinogen, as well as the stimulation of platelets with their accumulation in lungs, liver and spleen. A systemic hypotension of long duration was also observed. The fibrinogen consumption, the thrombocytopenia and the lengthening of activated partial thromboplastin time were dose-dependent. In kininogen-deficient rats, EA induced only a minimal congestion of lymphoid tissues, the accumulation of platelets in lungs, a decrease of plasma fibrinogen and a short-lasting hypotension. It is concluded that the vascular changes induced by blood coagulation with ellagic acid resulted mainly from kinin formation.