Thrombin interactions with central nervous system tissue and implications of these interactions.

A monospecific antibody was developed to human alpha-thrombin. This antibody stained neurons but not astrocytes in murine spinal cord cultures incubated with 1-10 nM alpha-thrombin using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique. Staining did not occur when the primary or linking antibodies were eliminated, and staining was blocked with hirudin. Preliminary studies showed release of arachidonic acid from the cultures when exposed to thrombin. It was proposed that arachidonate release from the membranes of neurons upon exposure to thrombin was similar to that observed in platelets, for example, by activation of phospholipases. Moreover, prostanoids were formed that could have a deleterious effect on cellular elements in the central nervous system. The potential role of thrombin receptors on neurons was discussed.