Failure of surface potential to influence thrombus formation

Summary

Platinum wire was inserted in rat vena cava for 1 hour, and deposited thrombus was weighed. The wires were charged in 100 mV steps through the range ±400 mV NHE with respect to the blood. Eight preparations were used at each step. Observations were also made using aluminium wire in the range −400 to −1000 mV NHE. Inserted for various times, platinum wires charged at +400 mV NHE gathered thrombus at a constant rate over 60 minutes. Wires with a negative charge of 400 mV gathered thrombus at a similar rate.

The results indicate with statistical confidence that surface charge does not affect the rate or amount of thrombus deposition on metal surfaces.

It would seem from these results that there is no relationship between the electrical potential of a charged wire in the rat vena cava and the amount of thrombus it gathers during the first hour. It may be that rat venous blood reacts in a way different to that of dog arterial blood.