Bay U3405 is a thromboxane A2 (TxA2)-receptor antagonist that inhibits the binding of TxA2 to its target cells. The aim of this study was to determine if Bay U3405 could be used to inhibit arterial thrombosis. A thrombogenic device, consisting of uncrimped Dacron vascular graft material (0.5 cm2) built into the wall of silicone rubber tubing with 4 mm inside diameter, was exposed to native flowing blood under arterial blood flow conditions (100-140 ml/min) by interposing the devices as extension segments into permanent femoral arteriovenous shunts implanted in baboons. Thrombus formation was quantified in vivo by measuring the deposition of 111In-labelled platelets onto the graft material with a scintillation camera. In six baboons, a bolus injection of Bay U3405, calculated to attain an initial plasma concentration of 300 ng/ml, reduced the maximum thrombus formation measured over a 2 h study period. Platelet deposition was reduced by 33 +/- 14% (SD) at 2 h as compared to control studies done in the same baboons. The accumulation of additional platelets onto a thrombus that was allowed to form for 1 h, was reduced by 58 +/- 28% at 2 h. Ex vivo platelet aggregation in response to ADP, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT) were not affected by the treatment. Ex vivo platelet aggregation in response to collagen was markedly inhibited for 2 h after treatment. The results demonstrated that selective blocking of the TxA2-receptor on platelets reduced platelet-dependent thrombus formation and the accumulation of additional platelets in a freshly formed thrombus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)