Quantitative analysis of ferric chloride (FeCl3)–induced thrombus formation in the carotid arteries of PECAM-1–deficient and wild-type mice. Filter papers saturated with 10% FeCl3 were applied to exposed carotid arteries for 3 minutes to induce acute injury to the endothelium, after which the vessels were rinsed and saturated with saline solution. Blood flow was monitored with a miniature Ultrasound Doppler flow probe placed under the exposed artery and recorded using a Transonic Model T106 flow meter. The time for blood flow to drop to 25% of baseline values (75% occlusion) was determined. Each data point reflects the time for the left carotid artery to become 75% occluded in PECAM-1–deficient (left) or wild-type (right) animals. The solid line through each data set represents the mean time to 75% occlusion ± standard deviations. The mean time to 75% occlusion (± standard deviation) for PECAM-1–deficient mice was 8.1 ± 1.1 minutes (n = 12), which was significantly shorter (P < .03) than that observed in wild-type mice (10.0 ± 2.7 minutes, n = 14).
