Intramuscular injection of therapeutic botulinum toxin facilitates blood coagulation in experimental aging mice

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Botulinum toxin (BoNT) is a bacterial poison that acts by blocking the release of acetylcholine-containing vesicles at the neuromuscular junction. Notably, a mild amount of BoNT is known to exert therapeutic benefits against various diseases, including migraine, movement disorders, anxiety and neurocognitive deficits. BoNT treatment appears to increase platelet count in circulation. Therefore, BoNT treatment may be associated with the regulation of blood coagulation upon haemorrhagic events. However, the effects of BoNT on the degree of bleeding and clotting events have not yet been determined.

AIM

To investigate the effect of BoNT on the bleeding parameters and blood coagulation events in experimental mice.

METHODS

A group of 7-8-month-old mice was intramuscularly injected with a mild single dose of BoNT. After a month of BoNT injection, animals were subjected to tail bleeding assay, assessment of clotting time, and degree of platelet aggregation in comparison with the control group.

RESULTS

Results revealed that BoNT injection significantly reduced blood loss and bleeding time in experimental aging mice upon tail tip transection. Moreover, the blood samples collected from the BoNT-treated mice showed enhanced platelet aggregation and intense formation of the fibrin clot compared to the control. This study indicates a putative therapeutic value of BoNT in mitigating bleeding episodes, possibly through its platelet-enhancing property.

CONCLUSION

BoNT treatment effectively facilitates blood coagulation. Upon further validation, this approach can be translated to treat traumatic blood vessel injuries, haemorrhagic diseases, and bleeding complications associated with surgical procedures.

Keywords: Coagulation; Prothrombin time; Platelet aggregation; Tail bleeding; Botulinum toxin

Core Tip: Botulinum toxin (BoNT), widely known for its therapeutic use in neurological and psychiatric disorders. It may also influence biochemical parameters of blood, including hemostatic processes, as BoNT has been reported to increase platelet count, which, in turn, could play a role in regulating blood coagulation. This study demonstrates that a single mild intramuscular dose of BoNT significantly reduces bleeding time following tail tip transection by enhancing platelet aggregation and promoting robust fibrin clot formation. These findings highlight a novel antihaemorrhagic property of BoNT, suggesting its potential application in managing bleeding complications in trauma, surgical interventions, or haemorrhagic disorders.