Thrombin inhibition reduces right ventricular hypertrophy in experimental pulmonary hypertension.

(A) MCT-induced RV hypertrophy is significantly reduced by treatment with the selective thrombin inhibitor melagatran. Increased expression of remodeling marker genes TIMP-1 (B) and Col3A1 (C) and the pressure sensitive marker genes ANP (D) and BNP (E) in the right ventricle of rats with MCT-induced PH is reduced by melagatran. White bars: controls without MCT; black bars: MCT with placebo treatment; grey bars: MCT and melagatran treatment. Data shown as mean ± SEM (n = 8–10/group). *p<0.05, **p<0.01, **p<0.001 vs placebo.