Von Willebrand factor is reversibly decreased during torpor in 13-lined ground squirrels.

ABSTRACT: During torpor in a hibernating mammal, decreased blood flow increases the risk of blood clots such as deep vein thrombi (DVT). In other animal models platelets, neutrophils, monocytes and von Willebrand factor (VWF) have been found in DVT. Previous research has shown that hibernating mammals decrease their levels of platelets and clotting factors VIII (FVIII) and IX (FIX), increasing both bleeding time and activated partial thromboplastin time. In this study, FVIII, FIX and VWF activities and mRNA levels were measured in torpid and non-hibernating ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus). Here, we show that VWF high molecular weight multimers, collagen-binding activity, lung mRNA and promoter activity decrease during torpor. The VWF multimers reappear in plasma within 2 h of arousal i

SUBMITTER: Cooper S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4838567 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature