Sustained bleeding from a leech bite suggested that
leech saliva may contain inhibitors of hemostasis
besides coagulation inhibitors. We decided to look for
inhibitors of platelet aggregation, Our method of
collecting dilute leech saliva (DLS) was based on the
finding of Galun and Kindler that leeches may
be stimulated to suck a solution of arginine in saline
through a membrane.66 The weight gain is equivalent
to a meal of whole blood. We squeeze the satiated
leeches from back to front, immediately after they
have fed on the stimulant so1ution.25,67 We used only
clear, colorless fluid that was found to be free of blood
components. It possesses the same enzyme, enzyme
inhibitor and antiaggregant activities that we found in
salivary gland extracts.6,25,67It was shown to inhibit
platelet aggregation induced by thrombin, collagen,
adenosine S-diphosphate (ADP), epinephrine, platelet