Effect of TFC-612, a 7-thia prostaglandin E1 derivative, on a peripheral arterial occlusive disease model in rats

TFC-612, methyl 6-[((1R,2S,3R)-3-hydroxy-2-[(1E,3S,5R)-3-hydroxy-5- methyl-1-nonenyl)-5-oxocyclopentyl]-thio]-hexanoate, inhibited the progression of the lesion in a lauric acid-induced peripheral arterial occlusive model at 1.0 mg/kg p.o. or 1.0 microgram/rat/h s.c. in rats. Aspirin (32 mg/kg, p.o.), an anti-platelet drug, did not suppress the lesion growth. On the other hand, ketanserin (10 mg/kg, p.o.), a 5-HT2 antagonist, also inhibited the progression of the lesion. In vitro, TFC-612 inhibited rat platelet aggregation induced by collagen and ADP with IC50 values of 5.4 ng/mL and 9.5 ng/mL, respectively. Aspirin also inhibited collagen-induced aggregation with an IC50 value of 6.3 micrograms/mL, but not ADP-induced aggregation at 180 micrograms/mL. Ketanserin had no effect on either aggregation at 40 micrograms/mL. In ex vivo experiments, aspirin inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen at 10 and 32 mg/kg in rats. However, TFC-612 showed significant inhibition only at 10 mg/kg. TFC-612 and ketanserin increased dermal blood flow in the rat paw at 1.0 microgram/kg i.v. and 100 micrograms/kg i.v., respectively. Aspirin had no effect on blood flow at 3.2 mg/kg i.v. These results suggest that the improvement of microcirculation, in addition to anti-platelet action by TFC-612, contributes to its inhibitory effect in a peripheral arterial occlusive model in rats.