Effect of administration of hirudin and ancrod on endotoxemic mice. (A) TAT complex levels were measured at 6 hours in endotoxemic mice treated with saline or hirudin. Data are shown as mean ± SE (more than 4 mice per group). (B) Survival of WT mice injected with LPS and treated with either saline (solid line; n = 15) or hirudin (dashed line; n = 15). (C-D) TNF-α and IL-6 levels in saline-treated (□) and hirudin-treated (▪) endotoxemic mice are shown. Data are shown as mean ± SE (more than 4 mice per group). (E) Immunohistochemical analysis of fibrin deposition in the liver. Mice were injected with saline, LPS and saline, or LPS and hirudin, and livers were collected at 8 hours. Fibrin(ogen) (brown color) was detected using a rabbit antifibrin(ogen) polyclonal antibody. Original magnification, × 400. Representative photomicrographs from 1 of 3 mice per group are shown. (F) Fibrin deposition in the liver. Mice (3 per group) were injected with saline, LPS and saline, or LPS and hirudin. Fibrin was detected in livers at 8 hours by Western blotting using an antifibrin monoclonal antibody. A pancadherin antibody was used to monitor protein loading. (G) Survival of wild-type mice injected with LPS and treated with either saline (solid line; n = 12) or ancrod (dashed line; n = 12). P values are shown.