Assessment of anticoagulant safety and coagulation analysis in mice using the VETSCAN^® VSpro analyzer

Animal models of thrombosis play a critical role in research, helping us understand the mechanisms of hemostasis and thrombus formation, as well as in the screening of anti-thrombotic drugs. This study aimed to evaluate the safety profile of two anticoagulants in murine research and to assess coagulation parameters, including prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), using the VETSCAN^® VSpro coagulation analyzer in wild-type (C57BL/6) mice following administration of anticoagulants. Two experiments were conducted involving a total of sixty wild-type mice that received two common anticoagulants. Warfarin was administered in the drinking water at varying dosages, while dabigatran was incorporated into a custom-chow diet at two dosages (10 mg/g and 15 mg/g chow). The VSpro was used to establish a reference range for PT and aPTT values in untreated wild-type mice and to monitor coagulation changes in mice undergoing anticoagulant therapy. Dabigatran was well tolerated at both concentrations (10 mg/g and 15 mg/g chow), while warfarin was safe at a concentration of 2.5 mg/L, resulting in a doubling of PT and aPTT compared to baseline levels. Although the VSpro effectively detected coagulation abnormalities in murine models, certain limitations were observed, including out-of-range measurements in cases of coagulopathy. This study provides insights into safe anticoagulant dosages for murine models, supporting the use of dabigatran at 10 mg/g and 15 mg/g chow and warfarin at 2.5 mg/L. The VSpro analyzer was able to monitor coagulation parameters under these conditions, making it a feasible tool for murine research.