Ferric Chloride-Induced Arterial Thrombosis and Sample Collection for 3D Electron Microscopy Analysis
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Updated: Aug 4, 2025
Ferric Chloride-Induced Arterial Thrombosis and Sample Collection for 3D Electron Microscopy Analysis
Published on: March 17, 2023
Smita Joshi1, Alexis N Smith2, Kanakanagavalli Shravani Prakhya2
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky; smita.joshi@uky.edu.
Insights
This study details the ferric chloride (FeCl3)-induced carotid injury model for investigating thrombosis in vivo. This method quantizes clot formation and aids in studying antithrombotic agents.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases are a major global health burden, with aberrant thrombosis contributing to significant mortality and morbidity.
- Thrombosis is implicated in systemic conditions (diabetes, obesity) and chronic inflammatory diseases (atherosclerosis, cancer, autoimmune disorders).
- Vascular injury triggers a complex interplay of coagulation, platelets, and endothelium to form clots, with dysregulation leading to bleeding or thrombosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the methodology for inducing and monitoring FeCl3-induced arterial thrombosis in vivo.
- To highlight the utility of this model for studying thrombosis mechanisms and evaluating antithrombotic therapies.
- To provide guidance on sample collection for ultrastructural analysis via electron microscopy.
Main Methods:
- Induction of arterial thrombosis using ferric chloride (FeCl3) in the carotid artery.
- Monitoring of vascular damage and subsequent clot formation.
- Sample preparation for electron microscopy analysis of thrombus ultrastructure.
Main Results:
- The FeCl3 model provides a sensitive and quantitative assay for assessing vascular damage and thrombosis.
- This technique allows for the study of molecular mechanisms and platelet ultrastructural changes during thrombus development.
- The model is effective for evaluating the efficacy of antithrombotic and antiplatelet agents.
Conclusions:
- The FeCl3-induced carotid injury model is a robust and versatile tool for thrombosis research.
- This standardized technique facilitates in-depth investigation of thrombosis pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions.
- The model supports the study of molecular events and ultrastructural dynamics in thrombus formation.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Aberrant thrombosis is a common feature of systemic conditions like diabetes and obesity, and chronic inflammatory diseases like atherosclerosis, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. Upon vascular injury, usually the coagulation system, platelets, and endothelium act in an orchestrated manner to prevent bleeding by forming a clot at the site of the injury. Abnormalities in this process lead to either excessive bleeding or uncontrolled thrombosis/insufficient antithrombotic activity, which translates into vessel occlusion and its sequelae. The FeCl3-induced carotid injury model is a valuable tool in probing how thrombosis initiates and progresses in vivo. This model involves endothelial damage/denudation and subsequent clot formation at the injured site. It provides a highly sensitive, quantitative assay to monitor vascular damage and clot formation in response to different degrees of vascular damage. Once optimized, this standard technique can be used to study the molecular mechanisms underlying thrombosis, as well as the ultrastructural changes in platelets in a growing thrombus. This assay is also useful to study the efficacy of antithrombotic and antiplatelet agents. This article explains how to initiate and monitor FeCl3-induced arterial thrombosis and how to collect samples for analysis by electron microscopy.
