A new microsurgical method for the induction of arterial thrombosis in rats.

A new microsurgical procedure for the induction of thrombosis in rat aorta is described. The method is based on the introduction into the vascular lumen of a small piece of the aortic wall, the so called "aortic flap". A long-lived, platelet-rich arterial thrombus invariably forms on the inserted aortic flap. These thrombi closely resemble human arterial thrombi in structure and subsequent development.