Rabbit model for evaluating antithrombotic therapeutics
Utilize a rabbit model to evaluate the efficacy and safety of novel antithrombotic agents, leveraging their similarity to human platelet biology for reliable pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic studies.
Overview
The rabbit model for evaluating antithrombotic therapeutics offers a sophisticated and reliable platform for testing the efficacy and safety of novel antithrombotic agents. Given the physiological and morphological similarities of rabbit platelets to human platelets, this model provides valuable insights that are more translatable to human biology than rodent models. The larger size of rabbits allows for sufficient blood volume collection, essential for comprehensive pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic analyses.
Technical specifications
- Animal model: New Zealand white rabbits (2-3 kg)
- Anesthesia protocol: Induction with ketamine and xylazine (IM), maintenance with isoflurane (1-4%)
- Surgical procedures: Jugular vein cannulation for blood collection; carotid artery isolation and silicone cuff application for flow monitoring
- Testing procedures: Ferric chloride solution application for inducing thrombosis, blood flow monitoring with Transonic flow probe, serial blood sampling for ex vivo platelet aggregation, clotting time analysis, and tongue bleeding time assessment
Technology readiness level
This model is at Technology Readiness Level 6, indicating that it has been validated in relevant laboratory environments and is ready for further adaptation to specific antithrombotic agent testing protocols.
About Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a major public land‑grant research university with a comprehensive academic portfolio and a large research enterprise. Industry partners engage through an on‑campus U.S. Department of Energy national user facility and shared core laboratories with user access. The university provides a chemical process scale‑up pilot plant on Michigan’s lakeshore, a research and technology park, and a Grand Rapids health innovation campus linking researchers with clinical partners. A statewide extension network supports field deployment and workforce training across Michigan’s manufacturing corridor. Research is backed by competitive federal funding from NSF, NIH, DOE, USDA, and DoD, while dedicated tech transfer and corporate engagement teams—supported by an affiliated research foundation—accelerate IP, licensing, startups, and sponsored research.
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