Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) contains 4 selenium atoms/molecule; its activity is increased by selenium dietary intake. The enzyme destroys H2O2 and organic hydroperoxides, contributing to the integrity of biological membranes. GSH-Px activity increased (+100%) in washed platelets of rats administered selenium (0.3 ppm given as sodium selenite) for 60 days from 10.44 +/- 1.10 U/g protein (control rats fed a standard diet) to 20.50 +/- 1.21 U/g protein (mean +/- SE; P less than 0.001). GSH-Px in washed erythrocytes was also stimulated (+70%) after 80 days of selenium dietary intake from 11.60 +/0 0.82 U/g Hb to 19.74 +/- 0.94 U/g Hb (P less than 0.001). Malondialdehyde (MDA), the typical breakdown product of peroxidized lipid and a suitable indicator of platelet prostaglandin production, increased from 0.343 +/- 0.035 nM/3 X 10(8) platelets (control) to 0.478 +/- 0.052 nM/3 X 10(8) platelets after 30 days of selenium treatment (P less than 0.05) and to 0.527 +/- 0.051 nM/3 X 10(8) platelets after 80 days (P less than 0.01). MDA was measured by the thiobarbituric acid method after stimulation with 25 X 10(-4) M arachidonic acid. It is concluded that platelets are very rich in GSH-Px, i.e., activity is greatly increased by oral administration of selenium and that the synthesis of prostaglandins is stimulated too.

A series of functional parameters, including the aggregability triggered by various agents, the in vitro malondialdehyde production and the glutathio ne peroxidase activity, has been investigated in platelets from normal blood donors.Glutathione peroxidase activity assays showed a significant inverse correlation with malondialdehyde induced by arachidonic acid but not with aggregation data and malondialdehyde induced by thrombin. Moreover, arachidonic acid generates in human platelets lysates large amounts of hydrogen acceptor substrate(s) for the glutathione peroxidase with peculiar kinetic features. These are related to ma londialdehyde production and to partial inhibition by acetyl-salicilic acid and are likely connected with prostaglandin metabolism.Our data suggest that physiological variations in glutathione peroxidase activity are important in human platelet arachidonic acid metabolism, because they modulate the biosynthesis of key end-products, as thromboxane A2, whose malondialdehyde is an inde.

A study has been performed to evaluate the effect of the portacaval shunt on some coagulation tests in the rats. Thrombocytopenia develops, accompanied by a decrease in the total protein and fibrinogen concentrations. Moreover, the Quick time is lengthened, whereas the partial thromboplastin time is not modified. The maximal amplitude and elasticity of the clot, recorded by thrombelastography, appear reduced, and k is lengthened. The results are discussed.

The functional exclusion of the liver, obtained with end-to-side anastomosis of the porta into the cava vein results in impairment of platelet activity. In fact the maximal amplitude and velocity of platelet aggregation in vitro are reduced in animals which undergo the operation and are examined 1 month later. Adding fibrinogen to the platelet-rich plasma after portacaval anastomosis restores a normal type of aggregation indicating that the lack of this factor is involved in the phenomenon, even if alterations occurring to platelets may be implied, too.